Abstract
The effect of oxygen and xantinol nicotinate (Complamin®) alone or in conjunction on uterine perfusion and the acid-base balance and po2 of the fetal blood was studied in gravidae suffering from various diseases. The series consisted of 40 gravidae with hypertension and 32 suffering from other diseases. Oxygen ventilation had an unfavourable effect on uterine perfusion in the latter group, just as was found in normal gravidae in a previous study. A still greater depression of uterine perfusion was observed in the hypertensive patients. The fetal po2 rose slightly and the fetal pH fell during oxygen ventilation. Fetal BE and pco2 showed slight rises. Uterine perfusion was also slightly depressed by Complamin® addition. On the other hand no appreciable changes were noted in the fetal blood chemistry. Oxygen and Complamin® in conjunction caused a depression of perfusion similar to that observed with oxygen alone. The response of the fetal pH was significantly more favourable in the combined group than in the oxygen group, and po2 rose, just as in the oxygen group. The conclusion may be drawn that oxygen ventilation of the mother in the final stage of gestation has an unfavourable effect on the fetal acid-base balance. It seems possible that this effect is to some extent counteracted by Complamin® administration in conjunction with oxygen ventilation.