Fetal cardiovascular responses to stress.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J Itskovitz.
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We present a method for chronic catheterization of the hepatic veins of fetal lambs in utero. A detailed description of hepatic venous anatomy, essential to the technique, is also presented. Right, left, or both hepatic veins were catheterized successfully in 23 of 28 animals. We assessed catheter position accurately during surgery by comparing oxygen saturations in the hepatic vein, descending aorta, umbilical vein, and inferior vena cava. Right hepatic venous saturation usually closely resembles that in the descending aorta, whereas left hepatic venous saturation lies between aortic and umbilical venous saturations. Samples obtained through these catheters are representative of hepatic venous blood and are not contaminated by reflux from the inferior vena cava. These small catheters are unlikely to alter the distribution of blood within the liver or streamlining of blood within the thoracic inferior vena cava. When this technique is coupled with catheterization of the descending aorta, umbilical vein, and portal vein, the preparation allows quantitation of blood flow, oxygen consumption, and metabolism in the liver of the unanaesthetized fetal sheep in utero.
The accuracy of estimating fetal weight with real-time ultrasonography was studied in 81 fetuses. The technique is described and results are compared with those obtained by the B-scan technique. The absolute mean error was 228 g or 8.3% of the mean weight. Sixty percent of the measurements fell within 10% of the actual birth weight. The estimates were more accurate in the low (less than 1500 g) and in the high (more than 4000 g) weight groups. The easy access, simple technique, and reasonable accuracy of realtime scanners, as well as the development in progress for more reliable instruments, enable us to advocate its value for estimation of fetal weight in the delivery suite.
A prospective double-blind study of antibiotic prophylaxis in 69 patients undergoing total abdominal hysterectomy was conducted. A short, 1-day course of cefazolin prophylaxis effectively decreased febrile morbidity, serious postoperative infections and hospital stay. Resistant infections or delayed infections were not encountered in this series of prophylactically treated patients. There was no difference between the active drug group and the placebo group in the frequency with which aerobic Gram-negative rods and the incidence of cephalosporin-resistant organisms cultured postoperatively.
Two cases of bleeding from ruptured umbilical vein during delivery are reported. In one case the rupture was spontaneous, leading to fetal distress. In the second case the rupture was probably iatrogenic, and was caused by forceps delivery. Bleeding from ruptured umbilical vessel should be considered when a combination of variable decelerations during fetal heart rate monitoring, blood-stained amniotic fluid and fetal distress are detected during delivery.
Zinc concentration was determined in maternal serum and amniotic fluid during normal pregnancy. The nonpregnant zinc concentration in the serum of about 110 micrograms% decreases gradually during pregnancy to about half the normal level. Amniotic fluid zinc concentration shows a slight decrease and remains nearly constant until the 34th to 36th week of gestation, and then increases sharply (statistically significant) reaching the highest level at 40-42 weeks from the last menstrual period. The maternal-fetal metabolism of zinc, the various factors effecting zinc levels in maternal serum and amniotic fluid during pregnancy have been discussed in view of our results. These may serve as data base for further studies on the role of zinc in normal and pathological human pregnancies.
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A plastic-cast technique was used to study the arterial vascular tree of the human uterus during pregnancy. The 3-dimensional models thus obtained revealed the organization, distribution, number, and diameter of the vessels. A vast ipsilateral and contralateral anastomotic network was evident throughout the uterus. The vascular structure reveals an increase in the size and degree of arborization of the arcuate arteries in and around the implantation site, which developed as a result of the increasing demand emanating from it.
Three pregnancies in which indomethacin was given for several days to arrest premature delivery ended in oligohydramnion, meconium and perinatal death. These findings, together with previous information from animal experimentation and experience in humans reported on in the literature, show that indomethacin, a prostaglandin synthetase inhibitor, may interfere with the normal uteroplacental circulation, amniotic fluid production, renal functions and neonatal cardiopulmonary adaptation. The possible hazards of indomethacin treatment during the third trimester of pregnancy are discussed.
Specimens from 100 fertile or potentially fertile men with sperm counts above 20 million/ml were analyzed objectively by the new multiple exposure photography method (MEP). The following results (means and standard deviations) were obtained: sperm concentration, 66 million/ml +/- 47; percentage of motile spermatozoa, 45% +/- 18; speed of motile spermatozoa, 30.3 micrometer/second +/- 5.5; abnormal forms, 29% +/- 10.2; average motility index (product of sperm speed and fraction of motile spermatozoa), 14 +/- 7.5. Low correlations were found between sperm concentration, percentage of motility, and spermatozoal velocity. Moderate correlations were found between percentage of motility and spermatozoal velocity. Negative moderate correlations were found between abnormal forms and spermatozoal velocity as well as between abnormal forms and percentage of motility. The differences between some of our results and those obtained by others are discussed.
One hundred fifty patients undergoing cesarean section were evaluated prospectively for the effect of prophylactic antibiotics on postoperative morbidity. The postoperative infection rate was significantly reduced, being 30%, 16%, and 50% in the ampicillin, the cephalothin, and the control groups, respectively. The results are favorably compared with the results achieved in previously reported studies where the antibiotic treatment was started preoperatively. Our study confirms experimental studies that postoperative infection can be reduced by using prophylactic antibiotics in the immediate postoperative period. By this regimen, undesired placental transfer of the antibiotics to the fetus can be avoided.
Bilateral ovarian surface papillomatosis of borderline malignancy is a rare condition. In our case it was associated with benign serous cystadenofibroma. The histologic diagnosis and the clinical aspects are discussed.
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A case of antepartum fetal arrhythmia is reported. The diagnosis of atrial premature beats was confirmed during labor by simultaneous recording of fetal heart rate and fetal electrocardiogram. The possibility of fetal distress during labor was excluded by fetal heart rate and acid-base monitoring. The difficulty of reaching a definitive antepartum diagnosis of the arrhythmia and its significance in relation to fetal well-being are discussed.
The diagnosis and management of ovarian hemorrhage complicating anticoagulant therapy is discussed and a case presented. The patient, who had undergone mitral valve replacement and was receiving chronic anticoagulation treatment, was admitted with signs of intraperitoneal bleeding from a ruptured ovarian hematoma. This complication must be considered in the menstruating female who is receiving anticoagulant therapy. Long-term anovulatory therapy could possibly avoid this potential ovarian hemorrhage.