title: Short Term Outcome of Neonates Born With Abnormal Umbilical Cord Arterial Blood Gases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Umbilical arterial blood gas (UABG) analysis is more objective than other methods for predicting neonatal outcome. Acidemic neonates may be at risk for unfavorable outcome after birth, but all neonates with abnormal arterial blood gas (ABG) analysis do not always have poor outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was carried out to determine the short term outcome of the neonates born with an abnormal ABG.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cohort prospective study 120 high risk mother-neonate pairs were enrolled and UABG was taken immediately after birth. All neonates with an umbilical cord pH less than 7.2 were considered as case group and more than 7.2 as controls. Outcomes like need to resuscitation, admission to newborn services and/or NICU), seizure occurrence, hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), delayed initiation of oral feeding and length of hospital stay were recorded and compared between the two groups. P value less than 0.05 was considered as being significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Comparison of short term outcomes between normal and abnormal ABG groups were as the fallowing: need for advanced resuscitation 4 vs. 0 (P = 0.001), NICU admission 16 vs. 4 (P = 0.001), convulsion 2 vs. 0 (P = 0.496), HIE 17 vs. 4 (P = 0.002), delay to start oral feeding 16 vs. 4 (P = 0.001), mean hospital stay 4 vs. 3 days (P = 0.001). None of the neonates died in study groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An umbilical cord PH less than 7.2 immediately after birth can be used as a prognostic factor for unfavorable short term outcome in newborns.
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mousa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmadpour-Kacho
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Yadollah
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zahedpasha
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagshenas
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Akbarian Rad
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Bahram
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sadat Nasseri
authors.affiliation: Non-Communicable Pediatric Diseases Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, IR Iran.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bijani
keywords: Assessment Patient Outcome; Propionic Acidemia; Umbilical Arterial Blood Gas; pH