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The management of intrapartum fetal distress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 October 2008

S Arulkumaran
S Arulkumaran*
Affiliation:
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Singapore.
*
S Arulkumaran, Professor and Senior Consultant, Coordinator of Fetomaternal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, Lower Kentridge Road, Singapore0511.
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Extract

It is logical to deliver a distressed fetus as quickly as possible in the most appropriate way either abdominally or vaginally. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of fetal distress is not always precise compared with the diagnosis of placenta praevia or anaemia in pregnancy. By common usage and for want of a better term, the situation where the clinician feels that the baby might be hypoxic and acidotic is termed fetal distress. The fetus may also become distressed because of infection or injury associated with labour. Many babies are delivered operatively for fetal distress and are in excellent condition. One could argue that, in such cases, action had been taken long before the fetus actually became distressed and hence the baby was born in good condition.

Type
Articles
Information
Fetal and Maternal Medicine Review , Volume 6 , Issue 1 , February 1994 , pp. 39 - 56
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

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