960 Complications in the Near Term and Term Infants with Severe Umbilical Artery Acidemia

Abstract

Background and aims: Umbilical artery acidbase status is a useful marker of the fetal condition just before birth. The objective of our study was to determine the newborn complications in near term and term infants associated with umbilical artery acidemia of pH ≤ 7.10. Study design: We retrospectively reviewed the maternal and neonatal records of infant's ≥ 35 weeks, born between March 2007 and February 2010, with umbilical artery blood pH ≤ 7.10. Umbilical artery acidemia was classified as metabolic, respiratory and mixed. Results: 179 babies had an umbilical artery pH of ≤ 7.10, of which 59 had an umbilical artery pH < 7.00 and 120 had pH between 7.00 - 7.10. Overall 129 (72%) babies showed evidence of fetal distress; 82(45%) underwent emergency caesarean section, 41(22%) underwent instrumental vaginal delivery. Table below describes the neonatal complications in the two groups. Table Conclusion: The risk of moderate or severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy and neonatal seizures is high if umbilical artery pH is < 7.00 along with presence of mixed or metabolic acidosis. Hence these babies should have cerebral function monitoring at least for the first 24 hours.