Pulmonary function of preeclamptic women receiving intravenous magnesium sulfate seizure prophylaxis

Article Abstract:

Preeclampsia is a toxic condition occurring during pregnancy that is characterized by increasing high blood pressure, headaches, albumin in the urine, and edema (accumulation of fluid in the tissues). This condition may be treated by continuous injection of magnesium sulfate. Studies show that patients treated with magnesium sulfate tend to have increased sensitivity to muscle relaxants, agents that prevent muscle contraction. In addition, treatment with magnesium sulfate causes changes in lung function of women with preeclampsia who are in labor. The nature of these changes were assessed by monitoring lung function in 10 preeclamptic women who were being treated with magnesium sulfate during labor. The maximal inspiratory pressure, a measure of respiratory muscle strength, decreased during magnesium sulfate treatment. The maximal expiratory pressure, a measure of the strength of muscles involved in exhaling, was also decreased during magnesium sulfate infusion. Other measures of lung function, including functional vital capacity and forced expiratory volume at one second, were decreased during administration of magnesium sulfate. These findings suggest that a widespread weakening of respiratory muscles may contribute to changes in lung function during magnesium sulfate infusion in preeclamptic women during labor. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Risk factors, Physiological aspects, Drug therapy, Lungs, Lung, Preeclampsia, Magnesium sulfate, Labor, Complicated, Labor complications

---

Maternal and neonatal effects of outlet forceps delivery compared with spontaneous vaginal delivery in term pregnancies

Article Abstract:

To help determine whether the prophylactic use of outlet (low) forceps has an adverse effect on the outcome of delivery, a study was carried out in which women were randomly assigned to be delivered either with forceps (165 subjects) or spontaneously (168). The women were assigned to one group or the other after entering the active phase of labor, defined as a cervical dilation of four centimeters or more. The study was carried out at Madigan Army Medical Center, where about 20 percent of the 3,000 live births each year are performed with outlet forceps. No differences were seen between the two groups in the duration of the first or second stage of labor, use of anesthesia, infant birth weight, Apgar scores (a measure of physical status of the newborn), or umbilical artery pH (acidity of fetal blood). Seventeen infants delivered via forceps and 16 delivered spontaneously had bruising of the skull or face, hemorrhage under the conjunctiva (the membrane that covers the eye), or insignificant scalp abrasion. Forceps were associated with more trauma to the maternal perineum (the region between the vagina and anus). The results show no particular benefit from prophylactic use of outlet forceps. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Obstetrical forceps, Forceps delivery

---

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Pulmonary syndrome in patients with thalassemia major receiving intravenous deferoxamine infusions. Acute changes in renal function associated with deferoxamine therapy
• Abstracts: Introduction of HIV infection among intravenous drug abusers in low prevalence areas. Heterosexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus among intravenous drug users
• Abstracts: Routine human immunodeficiency virus infection screening of women requesting induced first-trimester abortion in an inner-city population
• Abstracts: Ultrasound detection of fetal aneuploidy in patients with elevated maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein. Fetal pyelectasis: a possible association with Down's syndrome
• Abstracts: The contribution of symptomatology and/or uterine activity to the incidence of unscheduled visits. Characteristics of uterine activity in gestations less than 20 weeks

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.