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Biomedical subjects

O Finnström

Publications and source records attributed to O Finnström.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

Spontaneous labour and elective induction--a prospective randomized study. Behavioural assessment and neurological examination in the newborn period.

The effect of induction of labour on the foetus and the newborn was investigated in a prospective randomized study. 41 neonates were studied after induction at full term by amniotomy and intravenous oxytocin infusion. The infusion rate was regulated by the intraamniotic pressure using the Cardiff infusion pump system. 39 neonates served as controls where the labour started spontaneously followed by amniotomy. In both groups foetal heart rate monitoring intraamniotic pressure recordings were performed. There were no differences in Apgar score and pH in cord blood between the groups. The newborns were evaluated the first and the fifth day of life with the Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale and with a modified Prechtl neurological examination. There were no differences in behaviour and neurological state between the two groups. However, within the groups there were significant differences between the first and the fifth day concerning both neonatal behaviour and neurological state.

Anesthesia, Obstetrical↗

Umbilical artery catheterization in newborns. I. Thrombosis in relation to catheter type and position.

Seventy-one sick newborn infants, who had an umbilical artery catheterized, were randomized in one of four catheter groups: long end-hole-, short end-hole-, long side-hole- or short side-hole catheter. A long catheter means a high position of the catheter tip (Th6--11) and a short catheter a low position of the tip (L3--5). An angiography through the indwelling catheter in order to diagnose thrombosis was performed before the catheter was withdrawn. Dissection of the aorta and its brances was performed on infants who died. The total frequency of thromboses was 26%. There were no thromboses among infants with long end-hole catheters while infants with short end-hole catheters had thrombosis in 26%, long side-hole catheters in 33% and short side-hole catheters in 64%. Long end-hole catheters functioned better than the others. Only 6 of 16 infants with thrombosis had physical signs from the legs, while 12 infants without thrombosis had similar signs.

Catheterization↗

Umbilical artery catheterization in newborns. II. Infections in relation to catheterization.

Infections, as a complication of umbilical artery catheterization, were studied in 65 sick newborn infants. Every second day during the catheterization period peripheral blood cultures as well as blood samples for white cell count and platelets were taken. Cultures were taken from the catheter tips and from the umbilicus at the time of withdrawal of the catheter. Local or systemic antibiotics were not used prophylactically, but on rather broad clinical indications. No case of septicemia was found, but 8 infants had positive blood cultures and 16 had positive catheter tip cultures. Positive catheter tip culture occurred more often in infants who were born before 32 weeks of gestational age. Neither the duration of the catheterization nor the treatment with antibiotics influenced significantly the frequency of positive cultures.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Spontaneous labor and elective induction--a prospective randomized study. I. Effects on mother and fetus.

In a prospective randomized study spontaneous and oxytocin induced labor "for convenience" have been compared with respect to uterine activity, duration of labor, the condition of the fetus and the newborn infant. The study consists of 84 normal patients, of whom 43 were induced at full term by amniotomy and oxytocin infusion using the Cardiff Infusion System Mark II; 41 patients served as controls. No difference in maternal age, number of previous pregnancies and pelvic score one week before the day of delivery were found between the groups. The following parameters were calculated: duration of labor, uterine activity, amount of bleeding in the third stage of labor, number of early and late decelerations as well as number of episodes of bradycardia in the CTG-recordings, birth weight, Apgar score one and five minutes post-delivery and blood gases in mother and child 60 seconds after delivery. No significant differences between the two groups were found. It is concluded that there are no increased risks to mother or fetus compared to normal labor provided that there is cephalic presentation and normal pregnancy, careful selection with respect to the length of pregnancy and the condition of the cervix and that the Cardiff infusion system is used with intrauterine pressure recording and continuous fetal heart monitoring.

Adolescent↗

Studies on maturity in newborn infants. IX. Further observations on the use of external characteristics in estimating gestational age.

A simple method for assessing maturity based on 8 external characteristics has previously been described. Some new results with the use of this method are now presented. The precision in estimating gestational age is sufficiently good, more than 95% of the infants were correctly estimated within +/- 3 weeks. Reducing the criteria to seven and thereby excluding the ophthalmoscopic examination did not significantly change the precision of the estimation. The examination based on external characteristics is a very simple and useful method for maturity assessment, even in sick newborn infants. Tables for transforming maturity score into gestational age are presented.

Gestational Age↗

Aortic aneurysm developing after umbilical artery catheterization.

A variety of complications of umbilical vessel catheterization in the newborn have been reported by earlier investigators. This paper describes a case in which umbilical artery catheterization probably gave rise to an aortic aneurysm. The histological findings suggested that the hypoxic changes in the aortic wall as well as the mechanical effect of the catheter were involved in the origin of the aneurysm.

Aortic Aneurysm↗

Studies on maturity in newborn infants. VII. Foetal haemoglobin.

Cord blood from 125 newborns of various gestational ages has been analysed for the ratio foetal haemoglobin to total haemoglobin, using an alkali denaturation method. The quotient, percentage of foetal haemoglobin divided by birth weight correlates well with gestational age. Thus the percentage of foetal haemoglobin in cord blood can be used as a method for estimating maturity in newborn infants. Foetal haemoglobin has been compared with other methods for maturity assessments and seems to give the same precision in estimating gestational age as the best of these, which is the scoring of external characteristics. However, the latter method is considerably less time-consuming and more suitable for routine use.

Apgar Score↗

Studies on maturity in newborn infants. VIII. Alpha-foetoprotein and albumin.

Cord blood of 125 newborn infants of various gestational ages has been analysed for the amounts of alpha-foetoprotein and albumin using an electroimmunoassay. The quotient alpha-foetoprotein/birth weight was recorded as well. All the three measureements correlate fairly well with the gestational age of newborn infants. Measuring alpha-foetoprotein is not of the same value, however, in estimating gestational age as is the simple scoring of external characteristics.

Apgar Score↗