title: The effect of maternal administration of ephedrine on fetal heart rate and variability.
abstract: Ephedrine is the most popular vasopressor used in obstetrics to prevent or treat spinal or epidural hypotension. Fetal heart rate (FHR) changes during epidural anesthesia were studied in 71 patients; it was found that ephedrine administration (57 patients) was associated with significant increases in FHR and beat-to-beat variability. These changes were dose related and were not associated with fetal asphyxia as judged by measurement of fetal scalp blood pH or Apgar scores.
mesh_terms: D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical / Q000009:adverse effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004809:Ephedrine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D004809:Ephedrine