[Is it possible to safely reduce the use of in utero pH in the delivery room? Analysis of practices].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate our clinical practices since the implementation of different tools to reduce the use of pH in utero (pHiu) in the delivery room.

METHODS

A single-centre retrospective study was conducted in our university maternity hospital of Lille from October 2016 to March 2021. All patients in labour with a vaginal delivery agreement, a fetus in cephalic presentation and no contraindication to perform a pHiu were included. Since 2019, team training in fetal heart rate interpretation and a change in birth room practices with the introduction of fetal scalp pacing have been implemented to reduce the use of pH in utero. In order to evaluate the impact on clinical practices, the rate of pHiu, the number of pHiu performed per patient, the rates of instrumental deliveries, caesarean sections and pH at birth below 7.0 were studied and compared over time.

RESULTS

In total, 1515 patients had one or more pHiu during our study period, i.e. 7.3% (1515/20,562). The rate of pHiu decreased significantly from 2016 to 2021: in 2016, 12.1% (142/1171) of our sample had a pHiu during their labour, compared to 3.4% (33/963) in 2021. pH < 7.0 remained stable, ranging from 1.6 to 2.2%. Similarly, the rates of instrumental deliveries and caesarean sections remained stable, ranging from 17.7% to 21% and from 9.8% to 11.6%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Improved knowledge of fetal physiology, awareness of teams of the limits of pHiu and introduction of fetal scalp stimulation have led to a decrease in the number of pHiu, without an increase in the rates of neonatal acidosis, instrumental deliveries and caesarean sections.