Fetal heart rate decelerations following the administration of meperidine-promethazine during labor

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
A deceleration response lasting up to 7 min was observed in 53 [human] fetuses (of 1910 studied) following the administration of 75 mg meperidine and 25 mg promethazine i.v. to the mothers during labor. Of these fetuses 36 reacted with baseline tachycardia following the deceleration with or without loss of baseline variability. Seven fetuses showed a variable deceleration pattern and 6 fetuses reacted with a late deceleration pattern following the 1st deceleration. Two newborns from the group showing a late deceleration pattern were delivered with an Apgar score < 7 in 5 min. The probable mechanisms and significance of these changes are discussed.