Volume : 6, Issue : 9, September - 2017

EFFECT OF PREGNANCY ON MATERNAL OXYGEN SATURATION

Dr. K. Subha Revathi, Dr. N. Neelambikai

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;<span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Pregnancy is a physiological state wherein dramatic adaptations occur in the maternal aspect to ensure the perpetuation of mankind. Maintaining maternal oxygen saturation at the optimum level is very important as it is one of the major determinant of fetal development. </span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Aim</b><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">: To study the effects of pregnancy on maternal oxygen saturation during three trimesters of pregnancy and to compare the arterial oxygen saturation between pregnant and non-pregnant females. </span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Methodology</b><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">: The study was conducted in the department of obstetrics and gynaecology. 170 female subjects were randomly chosen which included pregnant females and non-pregnant females of age group 18-35 years. After clinical examination and </span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">&nbsp;</span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">haemoglobin estimation, oxygen saturation was measured using pulseoximetry.</span><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">&nbsp; </span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Results</b><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">: There is mild increase in maternal oxygen saturation during three trimesters of pregnancy when compared to oxygen saturation of non- pregnant females. The increase in oxygen saturation could be attributed to increase in progesterone levels during pregnancy which is found to change the homeostatic set points of respiratory centres during pregnancy. </span><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">Conclusion: </b><span style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;">There is increase in maternal oxygen saturation during pregnancy compared to non-pregnant females and maternal pulse oximetry can be used as the oxygen saturation during pregnancy is above 90% since the sensitivity of pulseoximetry is very close to arterial blood gas analysis in saturations above 80%.&nbsp;</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;text-indent:.5in;line-height:200%"><o:p></o:p></p>