PLACENTAL TRANSFER OF ORG NC45 IN WOMEN UNDERGOING CAESAREAN SECTION

Abstract
Org NC4S 60-80 μg kg−1 was administered to 20 pregnant women undergoing general anaesthesia for Caesarean section. Org NC 45 plasma concentrations were measured fluorimetrically in samples of maternal, venous and arterial cord blood obtained at delivery. The venous cord to maternal concentration ratio averaged 11% and was not influenced by the interval between induction and delivery The venous cord plasma concentration averaged 40 ng ml−1 The arterial cord concentration was less than the venous cord concentration in every instance and was undetectable in four patients. It is concluded that Org NC 45 crosses the human placental barrier to a very lmited extent and that its use during anaesthesia for Caesarean section is safe for the newborn