title: Continuous measurement of transcutaneous fetal oxygen tension during labour.
abstract: Transcutaneous scalp oxygen tension (tcPO2) was measured during labour in 40 fetuses, using a modified Clark electrode (Radiometer, Copenhagen). In 24 of the fetuses the recordings were of good quality during the second stage of labour. After delivery the acid-base status and oxygenation of the umbilical cord blood was measured. A correlation was found between the tcPO2 and umbilical artery oxygen saturation (r = 0.56, p less than 0.01) and umbilical artery PO2 (r = 0.56, p less than 0.01). Furuthermore, a positive correlation was found between the area beneath the recorded tcPO2 curve during the last 10 minutes and the umbilical artery pH (r = 0.50, p less than 0.05). The data suggest that continuous transcutaneous PO2 measurement may be of value in monitoring high risk patients during labour.
mesh_terms: D004566:Electrodes; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010313:Partial Pressure; D011247:Pregnancy; D012535:Scalp / Q000098:blood supply / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen