Femoral artery blood flow monitoring has distinct advantages for examining redistribution of blood flow in fetal acidosis.
Changes of blood flow in umbilical artery, carotid artery and femoral artery were examined during the progression of acidemia in fetal sheep by means of indwelling transit-time ultrasonic blood flow meters. Moreover, catecholamines in fetal blood were measured and its interrelation to the alteration in blood flow was examined. Gradually progressing fetal acidemia was induced by repeated cord compression. Umbilical blood flow showed a initial increase thereafter maintaining a plateau through the experiment, which seemed to be dependent on fetal arterial pressure. Carotid artery flow gradually increased until the arterial pH in fetal blood declined to 7.20 and remained at this level even though the acidemia further progressed. Femoral artery flow markedly decreased around fetal arterial blood pH 7.20 and its change correlated well with the plasma level of catecholamines. This change of femoral artery flow may be evaluated by examination of the flow index as well as flow volume. Redistribution of blood flow in the progression of fetal acidemia may be initiated at around fetal arterial pH 7.20 and can be detected by studying femoral artery flow.
Okamura
K
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan.
Shintaku
Y
Y
Watanabe
T
T
Tanigawara
S
S
Endo
H
H
Akagi
K
K
Yajima
A
A
D000138:Acidosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D004837:Epinephrine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012756:Sheep; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology
D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen; D009638:Norepinephrine; D004837:Epinephrine