Some effects of maternal pethidine administration on the newborn

Abstract

Summary. The effects of maternal pethidine administration (100 mg itramuscularly) were investigated in 150 infants at 1–2 h after birth, 95 infants whose mothers had not received pethidine served as a control group. Pethidine administration showed no effect on pH or Pco2 of cord blood and neonatal arterial blood at 1–2 h after birth if the time interval between pethidine administration and delivery was ≤1 h. However, when the interval was >1 h: umbilical vein blood PCO2 was higher; neonatal arterial blood PCO2 was higher; neonatal baseline heart rate was higher, although long‐term variability was similar; the percentage time spent crying was considerably reduced compared with the corresponding values in the control group. The long‐term effects of pethidine are unknown but the adverse neonatal factors particularly if the time interval between administration of the drug and delivery is >1 h should be kept in mind.

Intramuscular pethidine (meperidine) during labor associated with metabolic acidosis in the newborn

“…The partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the umbilical vein is not significantly elevated, as would be expected on the basis of another study [5]. We have shown previously, that intramuscular pethidine during labor is followed by a decreasing long term variability of FHR [2], with a maximum change at forty minutes after the injection.…”

“…Intramuscular pethidine has been An ultrasound examination at g es tational week claimedI to associate with neonatal hypercapma 15 to 2Q ^ formed for §,.,. of tients and acidosis [5]. Fetal bradycardia and acidosis and ^ tat f onal weeks were corre( f ted ac .…”

Non-nutritive sucking by infants exposed to pethidine in utero

“…An increase of apneoic episodes and of periods with decreased oxygen saturation is seen (9) as well as a longer interval to regular respiration after birth (10). At 1-2 h after birth, higher pCO 2 , higher heart rate and reduced crying time are observed (11). Less optimal performance in regulation of states and more abnormal reflexes are seen with persistence of effects at 3 d of life (12).…”