Neonatal acidaemia related to procrastination at Caesarean section.

Abstract

Summary The clinical and biochemical state of infants delivered by elective Caesarean section has been investigated. The results have been related to the duration of anaesthesia to which the fetus was exposed. In the group with a prolonged interval between induction of anaesthesia and delivery the Apgar scores were lower than in the other cases. Evidence is presented which suggests that prompt delivery after induction of general anaesthesia is better for the infant than when long induction-delivery times are accepted. The acid-base state of the newborn infants was significantly less favourable in the “slow” than in the “fast” cases. The possible causes for the trend towards infant acidaemia in the “slow” cases are discussed.