FETAL REFLECTANCE PULSE OXIMETRY DURING L ABOR

Reflectance pulse oximetry is a new method to monitor the fetus during labour in order to get a better assessment of the fetus's condition t han by CTG interpretation alone. In this study the method is investiga ted with regard to its prognostic value concerning fetal outcome and c omplications possibly due to its application: Increased uterine bleedi ng, umbilical cord complications, amniotic infection syndrome. Arteria l oxygen saturation was continuously recorded during labour in a total of 122 patients with a gestational age between 37 and 42 weeks and co rrelated to the umbilical cord-pH post partum and, if available, to in tra partum fetal blood gas analysis. 30% seems to be a threshold value below which oxygen saturation should not drop for a longer period of time. A post partum pH < 7,2 can be expected in more than 50% of the c ases in which the saturation remains below this value for more than te n minutes. The application of the fetal pulse oximeter sensor did not affect maternal or fetal morbidity.