Influence of Abdominal Decompression on Intra-Amniotic Pressure and Fœtal Oxygenation

Abdominal Decompression

“…In addition, the rhythmic working of the decompression induces Braxton-Hicks contractions continuing some hours after the end of treatment. All together should improve the oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange as well as the placental function [8,9] subse quently influencing the fetal cardiac frequency observed in labour [12], This fact was confirmed by short-time improvements of antenatal CTG patterns observed in our study, i.e. within 4 h after AD, which, additionally, corre sponded with intensified fetal movements felt by the pregnant women for about 6 h.…”

“…The rationale of AD for improvement of placental function should be to diminish the tension of the abdominal wall on the pregnant uterus con tinuing the decompression also in uterine vessels, therefore, suplied by an increased blood flow [9,12]. In addition, the rhythmic working of the decompression induces Braxton-Hicks contractions continuing some hours after the end of treatment.…”

“…There is still a lack of proved methods to meliorate a poor placental function. One possibility represents the abdomi nal decompression (AD), firstly published by Hey ns [8][9][10] and Heyns et al [9], originally introduced for application in labour for pain relief [8] and afterwards in late pregnancy to prevent onset of EPH gestosis [1,2], In a pilot study [17,18] comprising 22 patients presenting with placental insuf ficiency we observed an elevation of unconjugated oestriol (E3) and human placental lactogen (HPL), both in serum, within several hours after AD treatment as compared with a control group, and furthermore placenta per fusion measurements by radioisotopes had meliorated significantly after 1 week of treatment. These results have encouraged us to apply AD repeatedly for a duration of several weeks in cases suspected as having chronic placen tal insufficiency.…”

Prenatal influence of mild decompressions on hooded rats

“…Though the design of this study does not permit estimation of the effects of barotrauma, the behavior of mothers during decompression provides evidence that otic barotrauma is a potential source of stress in any investigation of hypoxia via manipulation of atmospheric pressure. Heyns, Samson, and Graham (1962) provide evidence that bodily decompression ameliorates fetal oxygenation, an hypothesis which predicts that debilitation should have 406 GRAESSLE been greater in Group N than in Group 1. Group N exhibited significantly more newborn mortalities than Group C , whereas Group 1 did not.…”