M. Butterwegge et S. Lampe, CLINICAL-RESULTS OF FETAL PULSE OXIMETRY MEASURING THE FETAL ARTERIALOXYGEN-SATURATION, Geburtshilfe und Frauenheilkunde, 55(11), 1995, pp. 634-641
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.