Published May 12, 2005
enfermeraSG
268 Posts
We had a terribly traumatic term vag delivery the other night (should have been a C-section based on the strip). Anyway, this term kiddo had the following arterial cord pH's:
arterial: 6.82
PCO2: 106
HCO3: 8
base deficit: 16.1
O2 sat: 13
This baby appeared completely lifeless, never made any resp attempt, was put on a vent, has intraventricular, subdural, and subarachnoid bleeds, has seized a few times. Have you ever seen cord gases this bad where the baby lived, and if so - what sort of outcome will this child have? The obvious? SG
Gompers, BSN, RN
2,691 Posts
Have you ever seen cord gases this bad where the baby lived, and if so - what sort of outcome will this child have? The obvious? SG
Of the kids I have seen with that kind of an initial gas...probably half survived and half didn't. The ones that did survive had very poor outcomes. All needed continuing nursing care post-discharge, either at home or in a pediatric nursing home. All had G-tubes, were on anti-seizure medications, and many had to be suctioned constantly because they were unable to swallow their own secretions.
dawngloves, BSN, RN
2,399 Posts
sparkyRN
205 Posts
Nearly always the obvious outcome.