Diagnostic value of blood sampling in fetuses with growth retardation

Fetal-blood sampling may be an effective method for monitoring fetuses with intrauterine growth retardation. This type of sampling involves measurement of the oxygen content, hemoglobin and lactate concentrations, blood gas levels and pH of fetal blood. Among 56 fetuses suffering from intrauterine growth retardation, 21 fetuses had a normal heart rate and blood flow, 24 had a normal heart rate and abnormal blood flow and 11 had an abnormal heart rate and blood flow. None of the fetuses with a normal heart rate and blood flow had low blood levels of oxygen or low blood pH. Seventeen percent of the fetuses with a normal heart rate and abnormal blood flow had lactic acidosis, 4% had low blood pH and 12% had low blood levels of oxygen. Sixty-four percent of the fetuses with an abnormal heart rate and blood flow had lactic acidosis, low blood levels of oxygen and low blood pH.