Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Lactate level in uterine muscles can be visualized by analysis of amniotic fluid lactase which used as bedside test with partogram to acquire good prediction of labour outcome.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the relationship between amniotic fluid lactase level of full term pregnant women and their mode of delivery.
PATIENTS AND METHODS:
A cross sectional study carried out in Labour room of Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital through the period from the 1st of July to the end of December, 2015 on a convenient sample of 100 women of term pregnancy. Each woman participated in the study was in an active phase of labour with cervical dilation > 4 cm and before artificial rupture of membranes .By coscus speculum the cervix was visualized with 2-3 ml of liquor was taken by a syringe while the amniotic fluid still in the uterus to prevent vaginal contamination, then collected liquor in plain tube after centrifuge was stored in refrigerator at -20° for not more than 3 days before it sent to a private laboratory for analysis of lactase.
RESULTS:
Mean maternal age was 26.5±5.4 years and mean gestational age was 38.6±1.1 weeks. Thirty three pregnant women had elevated lactase level and 31 women were delivered with cesarean section. A significant association was observed between elevated amniotic fluid lactate level (≥10nm) among pregnant women and cesarean section delivery mode (p<0.001). Amniotic fluid lactate was a significant predictor of delivery mode (p=0.001) with odds ratio (5.5).
CONCLUSION:
Amniotic fluid lactate could be a significant predictor of labour outcome for term pregnant women.