Abstract
The influence of maternal infusions of intravenous solutions on fetal and neonatal physiology are incompletely understood. Maternal infusions of low molecular weight dextrose have been associated with maternal and fetal hypo-osmolality. We investigated the influence of maternal infusions of high molecular weight dextran solutions and normal saline on maternal and fetal osmotic and oncotic pressures in chronically catherized Dorset ewes between 120 and 140 days gestation (term = 145 ± 5d). Following baseline measurements, ewes received 1 L of normal saline or 10 cc/kg of Dextran 40 or Dextran 70. Measurements were repeated at 15 and 30 minutes following infusion. Changes in fetal osmotic pressures correlated directly with changes in maternal osmotic pressure (r = 0.506, p <0.05, n = 12). Changes in fetal oncotic pressure, however, correlated inversely with maternal changes (r = 0.838, p <0.01, n = 12). These results demonstrate that changes in maternal osmotic and oncotic pressures secondary to intravenous infusions have an effect on fetal homeostasis. The effects of these alterations on the fetus or newborn remain to be elucidated.
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Golden, S., O'Brien, W., Hercman, W. et al. 1308 MATERNAL AND FETAL OSMOTIC AND ONCOTIC PRESSURES FOLLOWING MATERNAL INTRAVENOUS INFUSION. Pediatr Res 15 (Suppl 4), 661 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01337
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198104001-01337
