Relation between fetal blood gas levels and the outcome of babies in severe preeclampsia.

The purpose of this study is to ascertain that fetal blood gas values obtained by cordocentesis could be a clinical standard to decide whether or not we should terminate pregnancy and switch to exutero salvage for avoiding hypoxic damage. Fetal blood sampling was performed 38 times in 36 cases of severe preeclampsia. The relation between fetal blood gas values and the prognosis of the baby was statistically examined. Six of 36 fetuses of severe preeclampsia died prenatally or postnatally. There were significant differences in delta-values (difference from the normal mean value in each gestational week) of pO2, pCO2, and pH between survivors and non-survivors. delta pO2 value is most reliable to predict fetal prognosis. Since conventional fetal evaluation methods such as fetal heart rate monitoring are unreliable in the early gestational period, fetal gas evaluation is preferable to decide further intervention.