Maternal hyperoxygenation in the treatment of intrauterine growth retardation.

OBJECTIVE: In the current study the efficacy of maternal hyperoxygenation on growth-retarded fetuses was evaluated.

STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-six pregnant women with intrauterine growth retardation were studied. The patients were divided in oxygen-treated (n = 17) and untreated (n = 19) groups. Doppler analysis of the fetal circulation was performed on the arrival to the hospital, after 12 hours, and thereafter on alternate days until delivery. Fetal blood was sampled by cordocentesis for immediate blood gas analysis at entrance to the study and the day of delivery.

RESULTS: Significant improvement in Doppler flow patterns in treated patients were found when compared with untreated women. The Doppler variations were associated with complementary modifications in fetal blood gas. These differences resulted in a significant modification in perinatal mortality with an incidence of 29% and 68% (p less than 0.01) in treated and untreated groups, respectively.

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest a benefit of maternal hyperoxygenation in the treatment of fetal growth retardation.