The relation between the need for intubation at birth, abnormal cardiotocograms in labour and cord artery blood gas and pH values.

A consecutive series of 56 infants of 32 weeks gestation or more who were resuscitated at birth by endotracheal intubation was studied to determine the occurrence of abnormal cardiotocograph traces and acidosis as determined by cord artery blood measurements. Thirty-two infants (57%) had neither cardiotocographic abnormalities nor acidosis; in this group the factors associated with the need for intubation were meconium stained amniotic fluid, operative delivery, anaesthetic agents given to the mother, a tight nuchal cord, and traumatic vaginal delivery. The need for intubation at birth should not automatically be regarded as evidence of intrapartum hypoxia or disturbed acid-base balance.