Cardiopulmonary reference standards in the pregnant sheep (Ovis aries): a comparative study of ovine and human physiology in obstetrics.
1. Complete blood counts, respiratory rate, tidal volume, arterial and mixed venous blood gases; heart rate, cardiac output, and arterial, pulmonary artery, central venous and pulmonary wedge pressures were determined in 10 pregnant adult sheep of 42.7-65.7 kg body weight. 2. Arithmetic means, standard deviations, and coefficients of variation were calculated to develop reference values; in addition, the 95% confidence limits for ranges were established. 3. Comparison of derived data with that from non-pregnant sheep shows changes similar to those seen when examining pregnant and non-pregnant humans. 4. These results indicate the pregnant sheep is an acceptable model for human obstetrical research.
Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, USAF Medical Center, Lackland AFB, TX 78236-5300.
J H
JH
Cissik
W J
WJ
Ehler
G D
GD
Hankins
R R
RR
Snyder
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*