title: Fetal pH value determined by cordocentesis: an independent predictor of the development of antepartum fetal heart rate decelerations in growth retarded fetuses with absent end-diastolic velocity in umbilical artery.
abstract: Objective of this study was to establish the relationship in growth retarded fetuses between acid-base status in fetal blood obtained by cordocentesis and time interval between blood sampling and occurrence of antepartum heart rate late decelerations. Eighteen growth retarded fetuses scheduled for cordocentesis were considered for this study. All fetuses were free from structural and chromosomal abnormalities, characterized by absent end diastolic velocity waveforms in umbilical artery and later delivered for the development of antepartum heart rate late decelerations. Regression analysis showed that the time interval between cordocentesis and delivery was significantly related to pO2 (r = 0.46; p < or = 0.05) and pH (r = 0.57; p < or = 0.01) delta values but not with pCO2 values. Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the severity of fetal acidosis significantly and independently predicted the length of this time interval even after controlling for confounding variables such as pO2 values, gestational age, presence of hypertension, or umbilical vein pulsations. The knowledge of this relationship may be useful in the clinical management of growth retarded fetuses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arduini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rizzo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capponi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rinaldo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romanini
mesh_terms: D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D017218:Cordocentesis; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D014471:Umbilical Veins
chemical_list: D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D010100:Oxygen