Blood flow to the human uterus during maternal metabolic acidosis.

Uterine blood flow and metabolism were estimated at cesarean section under general anesthesia in pregnant women at term with the use of the Fick principle with nitrous oxide as the test material. Observations were made without superimposed maternal metabolic acidosis and during the infusion of ammonium chloride. Increasing maternal metabolic acidosis was accompanied by a decreasing rate of blood flow in the uterine circulation. There were no statistically significant differences in the metabolic rate of the uterus and its contents during maternal metabolic acidosis induced by the infusion of ammonium chloride.