The use of propofol, nitrous oxide, or isoflurane does not affect the reproductive success rate following gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT): a multicenter pilot trial/survey.

BACKGROUND: Whether anesthetic agents administered during gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) affect reproductive outcome is controversial. This multicenter pilot trial and survey had two purposes: to evaluate the effect of propofol, nitrous oxide, midazolam, and isoflurane on pregnancy outcome after GIFT, and to determine if a larger prospective, randomized study is warranted. METHODS: A written invitation was mailed to all 50 fertility programs in the United States that are members of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology and perform more than 30 GIFT procedures per year. They were invited to contribute information from the medical records of women who underwent GIFT during the calendar years 1993 and 1994. They were asked to document whether propofol, nitrous oxide, midazolam, a potent inhaled anesthetic agent was used during the GIFT procedure; if the woman became pregnant; and if she delivered at least one live neonate. RESULTS: Seven medical centers participated and contributed data from 455 women. The clinical pregnancy rate (number of pregnancies/total number of GIFT procedures) and the delivery rate (number of women who delivered at least one live baby/total number of GIFT procedures) were 35% and 32%, respectively. A statistically significant difference could not be found in the clinical pregnancy or delivery rates between those women who received propofol, nitrous oxide, midazolam, or isoflurane during GIFT and those who did not. CONCLUSIONS: No agent-related differences in pregnancy rates were found when propofol, nitrous oxide, isoflurane, or midazolam was used as part of the anesthetic technique for GIFT. Therefore, a more extensive prospective trial does not appear to be warranted.

Oxygen desaturation in women in labor.

Oxygen saturation and end-tidal CO2 tension were monitored in 15 healthy women during labor. Oxygen saturation was determined with a pulse oximeter and end-tidal CO2 with a CO2 monitor. Fetal heart rate, uterine contractions and maternal blood pressure were also monitored. End-tidal CO2 tension was followed to determine if falls in oxygen saturation during labor were related to hyperventilation. Ten of the 15 patients exhibited periods of oxygen saturation of less than 90%. End-tidal CO2 was consistently low, usually less than 30 mm Hg. Most, but not all (7 of 10), of the patients who showed desaturation had received narcotics. There were often periods of apnea and/or shallow respirations between contractions. These aberrations and hyperventilation-induced hypocarbia were probably the cause of the oxygen desaturation. No changes in fetal heart rate or low Apgar scores were noted.