Heart rate and blood pressure responses to umbilical cord compression in fetal lambs with special reference to the mechanism of variable deceleration.

We examined heart rate and blood pressure responses to umbilical cord compression in fetal lambs. Fetal heart rate (FHR) responses resembling variable deceleration occurred only after umbilical blood flow was reduced by at least 50%. These changes during partial cord occlusion varied directly with the reduced umbilical blood flow and were abolished by atropine; no significant changes in arterial pressure were observed. Complete cord occlusion caused severe bradycardia, a progressive increase in arterial pressure, and delayed recovery of FHR. With partial cord occlusion, the bradycardia was of chemoreceptor origin and was vagally mediated; with complete occlusion the bradycardia may have resulted from both chemoreceptor and baroreceptor stimulation. During prolonged partial cord occlusion, FHR decreased initially, then recovered to above control value; this occurred in the face of a significant acidosis. Thus, FHR responses to cord compression are dependent on the actual percentage of reduction in umbilical blood flow and on its duration.