Abstract
A study was made on 328 cases of normal or abnormal pregnancy, pregnancy with one or several complications, non-pregnant normal women or obstetric surgery in order to investigate the intravital mechanism of serum electrolyte metabolism in pregnant women.
Determinations were made of serum Na, K and Cl.
Normal pregnant women had lower serum Na ank K levels than non-pregnant women (Na 140.2±2.4 mEq/l, K 3.97±0.22 mEq/l) . Serum Cl level was somewhat higher in the former than the latter group.
Na and K levels remained unaltered, while Cl level was slightly reduced, during stages I and II of delivery. Serum K and Cl were decreased to some extent during stage III of delivery and on the 1 st puerperal day, but increased from the 3 rd puerperal day on, up to the same levels as in non-pregnant women on the 7 th puerperal day.
Severe vomiting of pregnancy was attended by a decrease in serum electrolytes. Serum Cl, in particular, was markedly reduced down to 100±3.1 mEq/l.
Toxemia of pregnancy was associated with a decrease in Na and an increase in K and Cl. There was a decrease in K and Cl in cases of termination-passed pregnancy (K 3.60±0.24 mEq/l, Cl 102.8±1.9 mEq/l) .
K was decreased in inertia uteri (3.45±0.25 mEq/l)
Serum electrolytes were decreased until 1-3 days following laparotomy and then re-turned to the preoperative levels by the 7 th-13 th postoperative day. No difference in Na or Cl level existed between umbilical and maternal blood, but umbilical blood showed a higher K level than maternal blood.
