ACID-BASE STATUS OF FETUS AND CLINICAL CONDITION OF NEWBORN FOLLOWING CESAREAN SECTION

Fetal acid-base status and neonatal clinical condition were assessed in 34 consecutive elective cesarean sections comparing the effects of (1) spinal analgesia with prevention of hypotension by forced hydration, (2) spinal analgesia with treatment of hypotension by forced hydration, and (3) thiopental-nitrous oxide-succinylcholine anesthesia. Spinal analgesia with prophylactic hydration produced more favorable biochemical and clinical conditions than spinal analgesia with therapeutic hydration. The thiopental-nitrous oxide-succinylcholine sequence was associated with a higher incidence of neonatal depression than either of the spinal analgesia groups; this, however, was not accompanied by an increase in acidosis of the neonate. © 1968.