title: The effect of epidural bupivacaine on the fetal electrocardiogram.
abstract: Fetal electrocardiogram waveform analysis was used to assess the effect of epidural bupivacaine on the fetal myocardial conducting system by evaluating its effect on the PR interval, RR interval, T/QRS ratio and the PR-RR correlation coefficient. There were no significant changes in either the PR interval or the PR-RR correlation coefficient. There was a significant increase in the fetal heart rate and a significant fall in the T/QRS ratio. Epidural bupivacaine does not alter fetal myocardial conduction as measured by the PR interval and it does not induce ischaemic cardiac changes as assessed by the T/QRS ratio.
authors.affiliation: Queen Mother's Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Umstad
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Murphy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002045:Bupivacaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D002045:Bupivacaine