BIOCHEMICAL CHANGES IN PROLONGED LABOUR IN THE TROPICS

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Abstract
Serum electrolytes, creatinine, urea and urine osmolality were estimated in 25 healthy pregnant women at term, 25 women in early normal labour, and 25 healthy parturients in prolonged labour. A statistically significant fall in serum potassium was found in early labour with a further significant fall in prolonged labour. Bicarbonate changes followed the same pattern of a progressive fall. Sodium fell slowly, reaching significant levels only in prolonged labour and chloride fell even more slowly. There was a conspicuous or significant rise in serum urea with a smaller, not significant rise in creatinine. The rapid insensible loss of water in tropical areas was reflected in the rise in serum urea while homeostatic mechanisms maintained a slower fall in sodium and chloride by renal conservation.