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4 - Cardiopulmonary Physiological Alterations in Pregnancy

from Section 2 - The Basics: for the Non-Obstetrician

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 April 2020

By
Niamh Hayes  and
Thomas Drew
Edited by
Stephen E. Lapinsky  and
Lauren A. Plante
Stephen E. Lapinsky
Affiliation:
Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto
Lauren A. Plante
Affiliation:
Drexel University Hospital, Philadelphia
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Summary

Multisystem physiological changes in pregnancy are designed to provide for the increase in metabolic demand from the growing fetoplacental unit, the developing uterus and other maternal adaptations. Basal oxygen (O2) consumption increases by 50 ml/min or about 25% at term gestation, and basal metabolic rate increases similarly. There is further increased oxygen consumption during labour and vaginal delivery. Global O2 delivery is determined by the O2 carrying-capacity of arterial blood and cardiac output.

Type
Chapter
Information
Respiratory Disease in Pregnancy , pp. 25 - 33
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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