Fetal whole-body interstitial compliance, vascular compliance, and capillary filtration coefficient.

Fluid movements across the capillary wall were studied in chronically catheterized, near-term fetal sheep. We hemorrhaged 15 fetuses and infused isotonic saline in seven fetuses. The average experimental changes in arterial pressure, venous pressure, and blood volume were then analyzed by using mathematical modeling and parameter optimization techniques to estimate mean values for the average whole-body interstitial and vascular compliances of the fetus and for the average whole-body fetal capillary filtration coefficient. After fetal hemorrhage, interstitial compliance averaged 45 ml X mmHg-1 X kg-1 of fetal weight and vascular compliance averaged 3.0 ml X mmHg-1 X kg-1, whereas the capillary filtration coefficient averaged 0.4 ml X min-1 X mmHg-1 X kg-1. For intravenous saline infusions, interstitial compliance averaged 45 ml X mmHg-1 X kg-1, and vascular compliance averaged 3.5 ml X mmHg-1 X kg-1, whereas the capillary filtration coefficient averaged 0.8 ml X min-1 X mmHg-1 X kg-1. These data suggest that the fetus has a high whole-body interstitial compliance and a high capillary filtration coefficient compared with the adult. In addition, it appears that the fetus has the ability to decrease its vascular compliance and capillary surface area after a fetal hemorrhage.