Continuous monitoring of v i t a l s i g n s , e . g . temperature, blood pressure, heart and r e s p i r a t i o n r a t e s , and E C G , f o r the care of c r i t i c a l l y s i c k infants has become an established hospital routine. W e have compared various non-invasive and invasive continuous Pa02 monitors with a r t e r i a l blood Pa02 levels and find t h a t there i s a considerable c o r r e l a t i o n between the values obtained by d i f f e r e n t procedures. Continuous monitoring procedures permit b e t t e r evaluation of the p a t i e n t than skin c o l o r , ECG monitoring o r c l i n i c a l observation.I t s immediate a v a i l a b i l i t y a t bedside and the capacity t o detect i r r e g u l a r i t y in oxygen supply i s of major c l i n i c a l advantage. These devices help in preventing t h e e f f e c t s of hyperoxemia and hypoxemia. S t a b i l i z a t i o n of s i c k infants can be achieved rapidly without repeated a r t e r i a l blood sampling f o r Pa02 determinations. The r e s u l t s suggest t h a t these continuous Pa02 monitors (invasive o r non-invasive) may be a b l e t o eliminate or minimize conditions l i k e bronchopulmonary dysplasia, r e t r o l e n t a l f i b r o p l a s i a and brain damage due t o lack of oxygen during neonatal development.
INTRAUTERINE FETAL RESUSCITATION WITH TERBUTALINENer esh A. Te a n i , Uma L. Verma, S amali Chatter ee.1451 Spo:. by P l a t i n J. Collipp. NassavlCty Med C t r , i l t h S c i C t r , SUNY a t Stony Brook, Dept. of Ob/Gyn, East Meadow, NY Cases of i n t r a p a r t a l f e t a l d i s t r e s s from any cause s u s t a i n f u r t h e r hypoxia during u t e r i n e contractions due t o t h e concomit a n t reduction i n u t e r i n e blood flow during u t e r i n e a c t i v i t y . Therapeutic reduction of u t e r i n e a c t i v i t y should, t h e r e f o r e , res u l t i n recovery of f e t a l h e a r t r a t e (FHR) and f e t a l a c i d o s i s , and t h e b i r t h of a neonate i n a b e t t e r s t a t e of owgenation and acid-base balance. Towards t h i s , t e r b u t a l i n e 250 Ug subcutaneously was i n j e c t e d i n p a t i e n t s with evidence of f e t a l d i s t r e s s . A l l 1 1 p a t i e n t s showed ominous FHR changes. I n 2 of t h e s e , f e t a l s c a l p blood pH (FSB-pH) was not t e c h n i c a l l y possible. I n 2 , t h e FSB-pH was b 7.25. The remaining 7 p a t i e n t s showed FSB-pH 4 7.25.Results: Where adequate FHR t r a c e was a v a i l a b l e , 9/10 pat i e n t s showed marked reduction t o cessation of u t e r i n e a c t i v i t y , and complete o r p a r t i a l recovery of ominous FHR changes. FSB-pH was compared t o t h e mid-point of t h e umbilical vein and a r t e r y pH's. I n t h e 2 cases where t h e o r i g i n a l FSB-pH was b 7.25, no change was seen. However, i n cases with FSB-pH 5 7.25, a s i gn i f i c a n t improvement from a mean of 7.180 + .038 t o 7.270 2 .066 (P = 4 .005) was seen. No major s i d e e f f e d s were noted. ST of AP l i p . e x t . meas...