Umbilical Cord Blood Gas

Abstract

Umbilical cord blood gas along with the Apgar score is a useful tool to assess fetal well-being. Both umbilical artery and venous blood samples should be obtained, especially in case of fetal distress, to differentiate placental insufficiency from cord abnormalities. There is a strong correlation between umbilical cord gas abnormalities and fetal morbidity and mortality, but no proven predictive value has been found. Choice of anesthesia for labor analgesia and cesarean section and its effect on umbilical cord gas has been extensively studied but failed to show any consistent correlation. Factors that are deemed predictive of decreasing umbilical arterial pH are maternal body mass index (BMI), noncephalic presentation, spinal start to delivery interval, uterine incision to delivery, and maximum reduction in blood pressure from baseline.