title: Umbilical cord blood gas analysis at delivery.
abstract: Fetal acid-base status is the end point that all antepartum and intrapartum surveillance tools are designed to assess, either directly or indirectly. Umbilical arterial blood pH is normal in 80% of depressed newborns, thereby proving the absence of birth asphyxia both in the delivery room and in the courtroom. The technique, normal ranges, and risks, benefits and cost analysis of routine versus selected umbilical blood sampling are considered. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends performing umbilical blood sampling for acid-base analysis in selected deliveries. However, in our opinion routine umbilical blood sampling at all deliveries has merit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ostetrics and Gynecology, Saint Luke's Hospital of Kansas City, MO 64111, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Thorp
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dildy
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Yeomans
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: V M
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Parisi
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry*; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015997:Neonatal Screening; D012016:Reference Values