CONTINUOUS MEASUREMENT OF TRANS-CUTANEOUS FETAL OXYGEN-TENSION DURING LABOR

Transcutaneous scalp oxygen tension (tcPO2) was measured during labour in 40 fetuses, using a modified Clark electrode (Radiometer, Copenhagen). In 24 of the fetuses the recordings were of good quality during the second stage of labour. After delivery the acid‐base status and oxygenation of the umbilical cord blood was measured. A correlation was found between the tcPO2 and umbilical artery oxygen saturation (r = 0.56, p<0.01) and umbilical artery PO2 (r = 0.56, p<0.01). Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between the area beneath the recorded tcPO2 curve during the last 10 minutes and the umbilical artery pH (r = 0.50, p <0.05). The data suggest that continuous transcutaneous PO2 measurement may be of value in monitoring high risk patients during labour. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved