RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To ascertain if there are differences in umbilical cord blood gas analysis between immediate and delayed cord clamping. STUDY DESIGN: In a prospective observational study on 60 vaginally delivered healthy term newborns, we sampled umbilical cord blood immediately after delivery and at the time umbilical cord pulsation spontaneously ceased. RESULTS: There were significant decreases in pH, oxygen saturation (sO(2)), glycemia, oxygen content (ctO(2)), bicarbonate (HCO(3)(-)) and base excess (BE). Lactate and [Formula: see text] increased. Delayed cord clamping pH correlated with immediate cord clamping pH, [Formula: see text] , ctHb, sO(2) and time (r(2)=0.77, p<0.000). Delayed cord clamping lactate was associated with immediate cord clamping lactate and time (r(2)=0.83, p<0.000). Delayed BE was associated with previous pH, lactate, glycemia, ctHb and time (r(2)=0.83, p<0.000). CONCLUSIONS: Delayed cord clamping alters acid-base parameters and lactate values compared to immediate cord clamping. Those variations depend mainly on time, prior pH and lactate.