Effect of anaemia on maternal and fetal blood gases

Abstract EN

This study was carried out at Al Hussein and Bab Al Sharia University hospitals in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology during the period from December 1998 to December 1999.

One hundred and twenty patients were included in this study - The patients were divided into 2 groups.

Group I (study group): included 100 women suffering from anaemia with pregnancy.

Group II (control group): included 20 women with normal haemoglobin concentration.

Arterial blood samples were taken from all cases during the first and second stages of labour.

Also, umbilical artery samples were taken from all fetuses just after delivery and before breathing.

The samples were analyzed for measurement of PO2; PCO2; HCO3 and ph.

also apgar score was recorded.

There was a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in the mean haemoglobin concentration in the study group compared to the control group.

Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes were significantly lower (P < 0.01) in the study group than the control group.

Mean PO2 was significantly lower (P < 0.01) in the study group during the first and second stage of labour than the control group.

Also; there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in PO2 in fetal umbilical arteries in the study group than the control group.