Pediatric & Neonatal anesthesia pathophysiology Part 2 Flashcards
Fetal circulation is characterized by
high PVR secondary to fluid filled lungs
- low systemic vascular resistance secondary to the large surface area of the low resistance utero-placental bed
The most oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein perfuses the
brain and heart by shunting across the liver via the ductus venosus and shunting across the right heart via the foramen ovale***
The umbilical vein PaO2 is
30-35 mmHg
-oxygen transport exists in relatively hypoxic environment
Fetal hemoglobin maintains the oxygen content of blood (CaO2) via two mechanism:
hgb F is left shifted and is more saturated than adult Hgb
hemoglobin levels in utero are elevated which also raises the CaO2
- the effect of left shifted hgb F** and polycythemia produce an oxygen carrying capacity in the fetus that nearly equal to adults
Transition from fetal to adult circulation occurs with
clamping of the umbilical cord and inflation of the lungs
-cord clamping removes the low resistance placenta and raises SVR
Lung inflation and increased PaO2 dramatically lowers
the PVR
- when the lungs expand and fill with gas pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) decreases***** as a result of mechanical effects on the vessels and relaxation of vasomotor tone
As PVR decreases, blood flow increases to the lungs, then blood flows into the left atrium increases via the pulmonary veins,
increasing LA pressure over RA pressure closes the atrial septum over the foramen ovale***
Placenta clamp ceases flow from this large, low-resistance vascular bed. This results in an
increase in SVR and a decrease in inferior vena cava blood flow and right atrium pressure
This increase in SVR and aortic pressure above the pulmonary artery pressure results in
reverse flow through the ductus arteriosus*****
The increase in oxygen concentration leads to a __________ causing closure of the ductus arteriosus
decrease in prostaglandins**
_______ closes the flap of tissue covering the patent foramen ovale
when left atrial pressure rises above right atrial pressure
Describe functional and anatomic closure of the foramen ovale.
functional- closure occurs quickly
anatomic- closure usually requires weeks
A PFO that is probe patent persists in 20-25% of adults
The ductus arteriosus remains patent in utero due to
hypoxia, mild acidosis, and placental prostaglandins
- removal of these factors after delivery causes functional closure
- the reverse flow pressure and increase in local PaO2 (>50-60 mmHg) causes the muscular wall of the ductus arteriosus to constrict
Permanent anatomic closure of the ductus arteriosus, is usually complete in
5-7 days*** but may persist until 3 weeks
delayed closure is common in premature infants (esp. <34 weeks)
A PDA often occurs in premature infants with
lung disease
- during the period before anatomic closure certain physiologic stressors (hypothermia, hypercarbia, acidosis, hypoxia, sepsis, raised PVR) can cause the newborn to revert to fetal circulation
Changes in systemic or pulmonary vascular resistance alter the direction of blood flow in patent ductus arteriosus, lead to
increase in PVR –> right to left shunting (bad)
can lead to congestive heart failure and low diastolic pressure
pulmonary edema from increased blood flow promotes (in patent ductus arteriosus)
pulmonary hypertension
-worsened with hypoxia, hypercarbia, acidosis, and hypothermia
Describe Pre ad post-ductal saturation monitoring:
preductal- pulse ox on the right hand
postductal- pulse ox on the lower limb
cerebral oximetry
Myelination of nerve fibers and cerebral cortex is
less incomplete and developed in premature infants
The blood brain barrier in the premature infant is
immature, rendering the developing brain more vulnerable to drugs or toxins
Neural pathways allowing for pain perception develop during
the first, second, and third trimesters
Developing cerebral vessels appear to be
more fragile than in the adult
cerebral auto-regulation is impaired in sick neonates and therefore blood flow is pressure dependent