Systematic literature review shows no significant improvement in umbilical artery pH or other neonatal outcomes<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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THURSDAY, Jan. 21, 2021 (HealthDay News) — Use of maternal oxygen during childbirth is not associated with improved neonatal outcomes, according to a review published online Jan. 4 in JAMA Pediatrics<\/em>.<\/p>\n Nandini Raghuraman, M.D., from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to identify randomized clinical trials comparing oxygen to room air at the time of scheduled cesarean delivery or labor in patients with singleton, nonanomalous pregnancies.<\/p>\n Among 16 included studies (1,078 patients in the oxygen group; 974 patients in the room air group), the researchers observed significant heterogeneity; however, overall, oxygen administration was associated with no significant difference in umbilical artery (UA) pH (weighted mean difference, 0.00; 95 percent confidence interval, \u00e2\u0088\u00920.01 to 0.01). There was an increase seen in UA PaO2<\/sub> (weighted mean difference, 2.57 mm Hg; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.80 to 4.34 mm Hg) associated with oxygen use, but there was no significant difference in UA base excess, UA pH <7.2, Apgar scores, or neonatal intensive care unit admissions. Oxygen use in women undergoing scheduled cesarean delivery was associated with increased UA PaO2<\/sub> (weighted mean difference, 2.12 mm Hg; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.09 to 4.15 mm Hg) and a reduction in the incidence of UA pH <7.2 (relative risk, 0.63; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.43 to 0.90), but these findings were not seen among women using oxygen during labor (PaO2<\/sub>: weighted mean difference, 3.60 mm Hg [95 percent confidence interval, \u00e2\u0088\u00920.30 to 7.49 mm Hg]; UA pH <7.2: relative risk, 1.34 [95 percent confidence interval, 0.58 to 3.11]).<\/p>\n “It is such a common practice because the thought is that by giving mom oxygen, we are increasing oxygen transfer to the baby,” Raghuraman said in a statement. “However, the results of this study suggest that oxygen is not helpful in these cases and that the practice could be safely discontinued for many women.”<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n