Assessment of foetal umbilical artery acid base and blood gases in high risk pregnancies

ABSTRACT

To evaluate the foetal condition by assessment of foetal umbilical artery acid base balance and blood gases in high risk pregnancies compared to normal pregnancy. Forty female patients were included in this study, twenty served as normal controls, ten preeclamptic patients and ten diabetic patients. Post delivery umbilical artery blood sampling was withdrawn to measure pH, PaO[2], PaCO[2]. There was a significant difference in umbilical artery blood acid base parameters [pH, PaO[2], PaCO[2]] between normal pregnancies and high risk pregnancies [Diabetes mellitus and hypertension]. In addition the acid-base showed a good condition with mode of delivery. It appears that umbilical artery acid-base is an accurate assessment of foetal metabolic status and much more accurate than APGAR scoring system in diagnosis of asphyxia