HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by BRADY, K. Articles by HARLASS, F. E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by BRADY, K. Articles by HARLASS, F. E.

Reliability of Fetal Buttock Blood Sampling in Assessing the Acid-Base Balance of the Breech Fetus

From the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington

Abstract

This prospective investigation was undertaken to compare fetal buttock capillary blood pH and umbilical artery and vein pH in fetuses presenting by the breech. The study group comprised ten term patients with singleton fetuses in the frank breech presentation who met established criteria for vaginal breech delivery. All patients had a normal labor pattern. Eight fetuses had a normal fetal heart rate tracing and two had severe variable decelerations during the second stage of labor. We obtained capillary blood for pH measurement from the fetal buttock within 15 minutes of delivery. Immediately after delivery, we collected arterial and venous blood samples from the umbilical cord for measurement of pH. In all fetuses, there was a highly significant correlation between fetal buttock capillary blood pH and umbilical artery pH (r=0.96; P < .001) and umbilical vein pH (r=0.88; P < .001), We conclude that measurement of pH in capillary blood obtained from the fetal buttock provides accurate assessment of the acid-base status of the breech fetus.