CLINICAL-RESULTS OF FETAL PULSE OXIMETRY MEASURING THE FETAL ARTERIALOXYGEN-SATURATION

By means of reflexion pulse oximetry the arterial oxygen saturation (S pO(2)) of 100 fetuses intrapartum was measured in a high-risk group an d compared with clinical parameters. There is a connection between the duration of SpO(2) measurements below 30%, the delivery mode and redu ced pH-values in the umbilical artery measured post partum. SpO(2) val ues below 30% also occur temporarily with uneventful deliveries but th ey occur with increased frequency within the group of operatively deli vered children with a duration of more than 20 minutes. On the other h and the group with SpO(2) values ranging between 40 and 60% showed les s operative deliveries and a better condition of the newborn (Apgar, p H-metry). If prognostically unfavourable additional criteria with vari able decelerations increase, a tendency towards decreasing fetal oxyge n saturation values is recognisable. In the case of suspicious heart r ate patterns or patterns difficult to assess the continuous registrati on of saturation values is both medically and forensically of inestima ble value. There were no increases in fetal morbidity or signs of amni on infection syndrome. By means of a new sensor; a longer registration lime with a reliable signal quality is achieved, so that assessment o f the oxygen saturation in relation to labour activity becomes possibl e.