[Pathophysiology of circulatory regulation in hypoxia and asphyxia in the perinatal period].

Asphyxia is defined as hypoxia with hypercapnia; the physiology and pathophysiology of the O2-saturation-curve in maternal and fetal blood is given. Recent results about the redistribution of the cardiac output in chronically instrumented fetal lambs under the conditions of asphyxia, hypoxia and acidosis are reported. The life-threatening consequences of ischaemic situations in the regional circulations for liver, gut, kidney and lung are described, particularly in the newborn. It is stressed that in asphyxiated babies which show circulatory and/or cerebral disturbances, further organ functions (e.g. respiration, excretion) may be seriously damaged.