Human fetal oxygenation (tcPo₂), heart rate variability and uterine activity following maternal administration of meperidine

A re‐evaluation of the effect of pethidine on the length of labour

“…1964, Moore & Ball 1974. It also has side-effects such as maternal drowsiness, nausea and vomiting and a reduction in fetal oxygenation and fetal heart rate variability (Baxi et al 1988).…”

“…Some studies were found which, using women as their own controls, had compared the effect of pethidine on uterine contractility for up to 60 minutes after injection of meperidine (Eskes 1962, DeVoe et al 1969, Ballas et al 1976, Petrie ef al. 1976, Baxi et al 1988). However, as pethidine had been given to all the women it is not possible to assess from these studies what the long-term effect of pethidine was.…”

“…The uterine activity was measured using trans-abdominal or intra-uterine catheters for up to 1 hour both before and after administration of pethidine or meperidine (Eskes 1962, DeVoe et al 1969, Ballas et al 1976, Petrie et al 1976, Zimmer et a/. 1983, Baxi et al 1988. None of the studies reported statistical analysis of the differences in uterine contractility before and after the administration of pethidine or meperidine Eskes (1962) and DeVoe et al (1969) reported that the strength of the uterine contractions was not adversely affected by the administration of pethidine over this short period.…”

Conséquences fœtales des techniques d’anesthésie au cours du travail

“…Les anomalies du RCF enregistrées chez les foetus de mères analgésiées par des morphiniques par voie systémique sont bien connues. Ce sont principalement des effets de la mépéridine (Dolosal ® ) qui ont été assez bien caractéri-sés dans des études déjà anciennes, à type de baisse de la variabilité du rythme cardiaque (observée dans 5-15 % des cas selon les études), dose-dépendante et surtout observée et aggravée lorsque la mépéridine était associée à d'autres agents, benzodiazépines ou neuroleptiques comme la prométhazine [27][28][29]. L'emploi de ces molécules en association aux morphiniques systémiques est à proscrire, à l'exception de pathologie psychiatrique grave maternelle (NP4).…”

Effect of Intrapartum Meperidine on Behavior of 3- to 12-Month-Old Infant Rhesus Monkeys

“…Meperidine is known to be transferred from maternal circulation to the fetus [2,6,7] and to cause central nervous system depres sion as reflected in fetal movements and heart rate variability [8,9], lowered Apgar scores and respiratory rate in the neonate [10,11] as well as depression of spontaneous nursing be havior [12], Overt depression is usually not observable by 6 h after birth. However, using neurobehavioral testing, effects have been re ported as long as 3 days after birth by some [4,13,14] but not others [15].…”