The effect of maternal oxygen inhalation upon fetal oxygenation

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Abstract

In eight sheep, uterine and umbilical blood flows and oxygen uptakes, the transplacental flow-limited clearance of an inert molecule, pH values, and oxygen pressures, saturations, and capacities in the main placental vessels have been measured during maternal air breathing and oxygen inhalation. The mean ±SEM percentage changes during oxygen inhalation were +4.6 ±8.4 for the umbilical flow, +2.8 ±8.7 for the uterine flow, and +4.6 ±6.2 for the clearance. None of these changes are statistically significant. Oxygen uptake rose slightly in two cases and remained unchanged in the others. In all cases the oxygen pressures, saturations, and contents rose significantly in the uterine and umbilical vessels with oxygen inhalation.

Authors

Frederick C. Battaglia, Giacomo Meschia, Edgar L. Makowski, Watson Bowes