[The Apgar score, acid-base equilibrium of the umbilical cord vessels and early postnatal adaptation in healthy term newborns].

UNLABELLED

The aim of the study is to establish a correlation between Apgar score, acid-base status (ABS) and blood gases (bg) from cord blood and the early postnatal adaptation in healthy term newborns. The study is prospective and includes 52 babies at term born at the State University Hospital Maĭchin Dom, Sofia during a three month period--03-05, 1998 without evidence of asphyxia before and during delivery. All babies are monitored for Apgar score at minute 1 and 5, ABS and bg from umbilical artery (u.a.) and vein (u.v.) examined at birth, as well as capillary ABS and bg 1 hour after birth. Early postnatal adaptation is judged by a neonatologist in the course of two hours.

RESULTS

A significant difference is found between all the examined points in the ABS and the blood gases in samples from umbilical artery and vein (p < 0.05), most significantly differ pH, pO2 and O2 Sat (p < 0.001). There is a correlation between 1 minute Apgar score and ABS and bg from umbilical vessels, babies with 1 minute Apgar score 7 having significantly lower pH from u.a. requiring wider range of resuscitation. Babies with 1 minute Apgar score 9/8 and 5 minute Apgar score 10 have definitely less early adaptational problems.

CONCLUSION

The use of a combination of evaluation criteria for the condition of the newborn after birth (Apgar score, ABS and bg from cord blood and strict monitoring of early cardio-pulmonary adaptation) guarantees adequate resuscitation in term babies.