title: The effect of maternal epidural analgesia on fetal oxygen saturation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe fetal arteriolar oxygen saturation during maternal epidural analgesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observation study of 27 epidural top-ups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Labour ward, St James's University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds University, UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen fetuses in uncomplicated labour monitored with a N400 fetal pulse oximeter.
  
  
  METHODS
  A change in fetal pulse oximetry reading following epidural analgesia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is no change in fetal oxygen saturation following an uncomplicated epidural top-up (F = 0.93; df 35 and 784).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An uneventful maternal epidural has no measurable effect on fetal oxygen saturation measured with a N400 pulse oximeter.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Johnson
authors: E
authors: E
authors: van Oudgaarden
authors: I A
authors: IA
authors: Montague
authors: H
authors: H
authors: McNamara
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000767:Anesthesia, Epidural; D000773:Anesthesia, Obstetrical; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen