Metabolic effects of obstetric regional analgesia and of asphyxia in the newborn infant during the first two hours after birth. I. Arterial blood glucose concentrations.

Effects of obstetric regional analgesia and of asphyxia on the arterial blood glucose concentrations were investigated in 83 newborn infants divided into a control group, an asphyxia group, a continuous epidural, and a paracervical + pudendal block group. Lidocaine was used in the analgesia groups. All infants except those of the asphyxia group had 1-minute Apgar scores greater than or equal to 7.1) In the asphyxiated infants high blood glucose values and strong correlations between blood glucose concentrations and different signs of asphyxia (Apgar score, base deficit and lactate) were found. 2) In infants whose mothers were given regional analgesia the results were: (a) high glucose values in 20% of the infants and an association between increased glucose concentrations in these infants and signs of fetal distress, (b) low blood glucose values (less than 1.67 mmol/l) in 27% of the infants. It is recommended that the blood glucose is checked in the newborns after obstetric regional analgesia.