Fetal heart rate decelerations following the administration of meperidine-promethazine during labor.
A deceleration response lasting up to 7 min was observed in 53 fetuses (out of 1910 studied) following the administration of 75 mg meperidine and 25 mg promethazine intravenously to the mothers during labor. Thirty-six of these fetuses reacted with baseline tachycardia following the deceleration with or without loss of baseline variability. Seven fetuses showed a variable deceleration pattern and six fetuses reacted with a late deceleration pattern following the first deceleration. Two newborns from the group showing a late deceleration pattern were delivered with an apgar score below 7 in 5 min. The probable mechanisms and significance of these changes are discussed.
D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011398:Promethazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004338:Drug Combinations; D008614:Meperidine; D011398:Promethazine