Scalp blood lactate: a new test strip method for monitoring fetal wellbeing in labour.
OBJECTIVE
To determine fetal scalp blood lactate with a new test strip method in parturients with normal and abnormal cardiotocograms during labour and to describe the relation to maternal lactate, fetal scalp blood pH, cord artery lactate and acid-base balance.


METHODS
Labour wards at the University Hospitals of Huddinge and Lund and at the County Hospital of Ostersund, Sweden.


METHODS
Fetal scalp blood was sampled for lactate (n = 269) and pH (n = 285) determination in 177 parturients with abnormal intrapartum CTG. Lactate and pH were also analysed in a group of 64 women with normal pregnancies and with a reactive fetal heart rate tracing prior to sampling of fetal scalp blood. At fetal blood sampling lactate was also determined in maternal capillary blood, while at birth lactate and acid-base balance in cord artery blood was performed in almost all cases.


METHODS
Medians and percentiles (lactate and acid-base balance). Correlation between fetal scalp blood lactate (dependent) and scalp blood pH, cord artery blood lactate and acid-base parameters and labour time prior to fetal blood sampling.


RESULTS
In the group with abnormal cardiotocograms, fetal scalp and umbilical artery blood lactate and acid-base parameters differed significantly from the same parameters in the normal group. The fetal-maternal lactate gradient changed from negative in the normal group to positive in the fetal distress group. Multiple regression analysis, with scalp lactate as the dependent parameter, revealed a significant correlation with fetal scalp blood pH (P < 0.001) and umbilical artery lactate (P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Intrapartum scalp blood lactate was significantly correlated with pH and cord artery lactate. The results indicate that increased lactate levels in fetal blood sampling describes fetal lactacidosis. The new disposable test strip requiring only 5 microliters of blood for lactate determination may be better than traditional methods for monitoring fetal wellbeing in labour.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, County Hospital of Ostersund, Sweden.
L
L
Nordström
I
I
Ingemarsson
M
M
Kublickas
B
B
Persson
N
N
Shimojo
M
M
Westgren
D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood*; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011247:Pregnancy; D012535:Scalp / Q000098:blood supply*
D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid