Anatomical and physiological aspects of the mutual influence of circulatory hypoxia of the myometrium and non-progressive labour

Abstract

Non-progressive labour occurs in almost 10% of deliveries and is a main reason for unplanned cesarean sections and operative vaginal births using obstetric forceps or vacuum extraction. This article describes the morphological transformation of the myometrium and uterine blood vessels that occurs during pregnancy. It is shown that the myometrium inevitably experiences hypoxia at the microstructural level during each normal or pathological labour. We analyzed recent studies of the mutual influence of myometrial hypoxia and labour dystocia. Experimental and clinical studies showed relationship between the pH values and lactate levels determined in the myometrium on its contractility. Further research is justified, including the study of the pH and lactate values in amniotic fluid in patients with non-progressive labor. Finally, that will allow for clarifying the conditions and timing of labour stimulation with oxytocin and identifying a group of patients for whom oxytocin administration is contraindicated or hopeless.