Excess Decline Research Articles

Vasopressors in obstetrics. III. Fetal effects of metaraminol infusion during obstetric spinal hypotension

Metaraminol was used to correct spinal hypotension in eleven pregnant ewes near term. Uterine blood flow which had decreased 45 per cent was returned to within 10 per cent of control values by metaraminol. Infusion of the drug slightly improved fetal PO2 and PCO2, indicating better placental perfusion, but did not check progressive metabolic acidosis of the fetus reflected by a continued decline in fetal pH and base excess. Metaraminol ranks between ephedrine and methoxamine in its effectiveness in correcting fetal deterioration due to spinal hypotension.