Abstract
The purpose of this investigation was to study the effect of uterine contraction frequency on the cerebral concentrations of oxyhaecmoglobin (HbO2) and deoxyliacmoglobin (Hb) measured by NIRS. Two optical fibres were placed via the cervix at a fixed distance (3 or 4 cms) from each other on the scalp of 8 term fetuses1. For each fetus between 45 and 60 mins of continuous data where external tocography clearly demonstrated uterine contractions were analysed. Changes in cerebral [HbO2] and [Hb] were calculated from the start of one contraction to that of the next and were related to the time interval between die two contractions (measured from peak to peak).
The results (Table) showed that (1) Δ[HbO2] was positively and Δ[Hb] negatively related to contraction interval (p<0.001, ANOVA).(2) At contraction intervals < 2 mins the usual finding was a fall in [HbO2] and a rise in [Hb]. We conclude that short contraction intervals were associated with intracerebral desaturation.
(1) D.M.Peebles et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol (in press).
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Peebles, D., Edwards, A., Wyalt, J. et al. EFFECT OF FREQUENCY OF UTERINE CONTRACTIONS ON HUMAN FETAL CEREBRAL OXYGENATION MEASURED BY NEAR INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (NIRS). Pediatr Res 32, 612 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00045
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199211000-00045