Normal range of fetal transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension during labour.
Fetal transcutaneous carbon dioxide tension (tc-PCO2) was monitored during 122 deliveries, using an electrode temperature of 44 degrees C in 80 cases and of 41 degrees C in 42 cases. Significant correlations between tc-PCO2 and umbilical artery blood PCO2 were found using both electrode temperatures, but the regression lines indicated a larger and more inconstant CO2-contribution from skin metabolism when the low electrode temperature was used. Normal range of tc-PCO2 was calculated at 41 degrees C and 44 degrees C electrode temperatures. Mean values of fetal tc-PCO2 were found to increase during normal labour, and especially in fetuses developing acidosis, but only four of six infants born with acidaemia had tc-PCO2 values exceeding the normal range.
Nickelsen
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Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Weber
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T
D000138:Acidosis / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012016:Reference Values; D014469:Umbilical Arteries