Biochemical Studies of the Fetus

Abstract

A study of scalp blood pCO2 (573 determinations) as an indicator of neonatal condition, using the Apgar score as a reference point, was carried out in the fetuses of 99 parturients. Correlation coefficients for fetal pCO2 and Apgar scores are poor except for low Apgar scores at five minutes. Discrepancies between fetal pCO2 and Apgar scores can be explained on the basis of the relatively short time constant of fetal blood pCO2.