Stable term infants with acidaemia had no major adverse outcomes within 48 hours of birth
Question Do term or near term infants who are stable and have an umbilical artery pH ≤7.0 (fetal acidaemia) have any adverse outcomes in the first 48 hours of life?
Design
Cohort analytic study.
Setting
A university hospital in Dallas, Texas, USA.
Participants
35 newborn infants with acidaemia who were ≥35 weeks gestation, weighed ≥2100 g, had an Apgar score ≥7 at 5 minutes, and had no serious cardiopulmonary disturbance. 35 infants who did not have acidaemia (controls) were identified and matched for gestational age within 1 week of enrolment. Exclusion criteria were obvious congenital anomalies and in utero infections.
Assessment of risk factors
Acidaemia was identified within 4–6 hours of birth using double clamped segments of cord for acid base analysis and was categorised as respiratory (PC02 ≥62.5 mm Hg with a base deficit <12 meq/l), metabolic (PC02 <62.5 mm Hg with a base deficit ≥12 meq/l), or mixed metabolic-respiratory (PC02 ≥62.5 mm Hg and base deficit ≥12 meq/l) based on previous laboratory values. …
