Relationship between maternal arterial and foetal cord carbon dioxide tension and neonatal outcome in critically ill pregnant women at delivery.

Background And Aims: No studies have evaluated the relationship between maternal arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (mPaCO) and umbilical cord venous partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO) in critically ill pregnant women at delivery. Based on the studies in healthy pregnant women, an mPaCO target of ≤50 mmHg is a suggested threshold during mechanical ventilation in critically ill parturients. We evaluated the relationship between mPaCO and neonatal cord gases in critically ill parturients at delivery as the primary objective.