Shazia Sehgal, Maria Jabeen, Aliza Rafaqat, Shazia Khalid, Farhat Naz, Irum Inam.
Association of meconium stained liquor with acidic cord blood gases in females undergoing cesarean section.
J Allama Iqbal Med Coll Jan ;19(4):840-4.

Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the association of acidic cord blood gases with meconium staining in amniotic fluid in females undergoing cesarean section. Methodology: It was a case control study. 100 females, fulfilling selection criteria were selected from the labor room of Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Jinnah Hospital, Lahore. Demographic information (name, age, gestational age, parity and BMI) was obtained along with informed consent. Patients were stratified into two groups, one with meconium staining of liquor during caesarean and the other without meconium staining. Within one minute after delivery, blood samples were obtained from the cord and were sent to the laboratory of the hospital for assessment of cord blood gases. Acidic blood gases and acidic pH were labeled (as per operational definition) if present. Results: Hundred patients with ages ranging from a minimum of 18 to a maximum of 40 took part in the study. Minimum gestational age of the women in the study was 37 weeks and maximum gestational age was 42 weeks (mean 39.14 ± 1.54 weeks). The BMI of the women ranged from 22 to 32 with the mean being 27.70 ± 2.67. 54% of patients were having their first baby and 46% of patients were multiparous.Acidic cord blood gases were detected in 48% cases and were normal in the rest of the 52% patients. By comparing the presence of acidic cord blood gases in females with or without meconium it was found that there was significant association of acidic cord blood and meconium stained liquor with an odds ratio of 21. After stratification of age, acidic cord blood gases were distributed equally over the ages < 30 and >30, with Odds ratio more than 1 in both age groups. Same was the case with gestational ages <40 weeks and >40 weeks, and with BMI <28 and >28. Thus suggesting that in our study, the acidotic cord blood vessels were associated most significantly with meconium staining regardless of the maternal age, gestational age or BMI of the mother. Conclusion: Acidic cord blood gases were found in a total of 48% patients (48/100), out of which more than 83% (40/48) were those who also had meconium stained amniotic fluid. Presence of acidic cord blood gas was significantly associated in females with meconium staining of liquor. Key words: Acidotic Cord Blood Gas, Caesarean Section, Meconium

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