Is Umbilical Cord Arterial Lactate a Predictive Indicator of Term Neonate Well-being?

Abstract

Objective: This research was conducted with a medical records-based, retrospective design to examine the predictive value of umbilical cord lactate measurement as an early indicator of well-being and severe conditions in term neonates. Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 81 term neonates with a gestational age of ≥37 weeks who experienced respiratory distress and were treated and monitored in the neonatal intensive care unit, and who had a cord arterial blood gas measurement performed at birth. The data were retrospectively collected from hospital records. Results: The umbilical cord arterial lactate value was associated with the pH level and analysis revealed that it predicted a low Apgar score, commonly used as a wellness assessment of a neonate (p