Abstract
The effects of early correction of acidemia in the newborn period was evaluated in 43 pre-term infants. Criteria for inclusion into the study was a pH of less than 7.25 either from fetal scalp blood, cord arterial blood or form umbilical arterial blood up to 20 min after birth. The infants were placed at random into: Group A, birth weight < 1,500g, early treatment (Rx.), Group B < 1,500 g late Rx., Group C 1,501–2,250 g early Rx., and Group D 1,501–2,250 g late Rx. Infants in the early Rx. groups were given intravenous sodium bicarbonate within 30 min of age. The late Rx. group were given bicarbonate at 2–3 h of age. All infants were otherwise similarly managed. Predetermined clinical parameters were used to make the diagonsis and to grade the severity of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) at designated intervals. No significant difference was observed in arterial blood pH, PO2, PCO2 and based deficits between groups during the first 30 min of life. The arterial blood pH were significantly higher during the first 12 h following early correction of acidemia. Group A has significantly higher PaO2 than similar in early vs. late Rx. groups, but the base deficit was significantly lower in early Rx. infants at ½–12 h. The incidence of RDS betwen groups was similar. However, the degree of severity of RDS was less in the early Rx. group. four of 21 early Rx. and 6 of 22 Rx. infants died during the first 10 days of life. These preliminary data suggest that early correction of acidemia in low birth weight infants improves acid base and blood gas status as well as the clinical course of RDS.
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Hobel, C., Oh, W., Hyvarinen, M. et al. Early Correction of Neonatal Acidemia in the Preterm Low Birth Weight Infant. Pediatr Res 4, 470 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197009000-00142
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197009000-00142