title: Intrauterine asphyxia: clinical implications for providers of intrapartum care.
abstract: Advances in science and technology have allowed researchers to gain a better understanding of the pathophysiology leading to long-term neurologic damage in newborns. Intrapartum events are now known to be an infrequent cause of adverse neurologic outcome. Clinicians caring for women during labor must have an understanding of the pathophysiology of intrauterine asphyxia as well as an awareness of the capabilities and limitations of available intrapartum fetal assessment tools to diagnose intrauterine fetal asphyxia or predict neurologic outcome. This article reviews the physiology of acid-base balance and fetal gas exchange as well as the current scientific understanding of the role of intrauterine asphyxia in the pathophysiology of neonatal encephalopathy and cerebral palsy. Recommendations for care and documentation are included.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, MD, USA. jfahey@upi.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Jenifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fahey
authors.forename: Tekoa L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: King
mesh_terms: D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium / Q000502:physiology; D001034:Apgar Score; D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D019069:Cell Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000209:etiology; D004282:Documentation / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000209:etiology; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D008880:Midwifery / Q000379:methods; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000451:nursing / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy