Complications of Fetal Blood Sampling During Labor: The Pediatrician Should Always Be Informed When Scalp Samples Have Been Taken

Abstract

During an 18-month period of monitoring at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center, two instances of persistent bleeding from the puncture sites in the fetal scalp, which were traced to coagulation abnormalities, and one of accidental breakage and retention of the blade used for scalp puncture were encountered. Whenever fetal blood sampling is performed during delivery, one should be certain that scalp bleeding has stopped. Continuing pressure will generally achieve hemostasis, but at times a surgical clip must be applied. When these measures fail, the infant should be delivered promptly and coagulation studies done. The pediatrician should always be informed when scalp samples have been taken.

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

1. Beard, R.W. , Morris, E. David and Clayton, S.G. : Hacmorrhage following foetal blood sampling. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Br. Commonw. 73: 812, 1966.

2. Roberts, H.R. M. and Whitehouse, W.L. : Broken blade in foetal blood sampling. Br. Med. J. 2: 510, 1969.

3. Balfour, Henry H . et al.: Complications of fetal blood sampling. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 107: 288, 1970.

4. Cordero, Leandro, Jr. and Hon, Edward H. : Scalp abscess: a rare complication of fetal monitoring. J. Pediatr. 78: 533, 1971.

5. Saling, E. and Schneider, D. : Biochemical supervision of the fetus during labor. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Br. Commonw. 74: 779, 1967.

6. Hon, E.H. and Quilligan, E.J. : Electronic evaluation of fetal heart rate. Clin. Obstet. Gynecol. 11: 145, 1968.

7. Kubli, F.W. : Influence of labor on fetal acid-base balance. Clin. Obstet. Gynecol. 11: 168, 1968.

8. Hon, E.H. and Khazin, A.F. : Biochemical studies of the fetus. I. The fetal pH measuring system. Obstet. Gynecol. 33: 219, 1969.

9. Hon, E.H. : A fetal electrocardiographic electrode. Yale J. Biol. Med. 39: 54, 1966.

10.

10. MacDonald, R.R. and Kelmann, C.R. : Problems of fetal blood sampling. J. Obstet. Gynaecol. Br. Commonw. 74: 826, 1967.

11.

11. Behrman, Richard E. : Editorial comment on Cordero, Leandro, Jr. and Hon, Edward H. J. Pediatr. 78: 536, 1971.

12.

12. Kubli, F. et al.: Ger. Med. Mon. 12: 315, 1967.