Perinatal Asphyxia (Acute Fetal Distress)

The fetus can be at risk of perinatal asphyxia by different pathophysiological processes, so the effectiveness of the various fetal tests depends on the underlying pathophysiological condition. The processes that can be related to fetal death or damage are decreased uteroplacental blood flow, decreased gas exchange at the level of the trophoblastic membrane, metabolic processes, fetal sepsis, fetal anemia, fetal heart failure, and umbilical cord accidents. Different ways and diseases lead the fetus to chronic fetal distress process, requiring, as a consequence, different obstetric procedures, according to each pattern of involvement of the fetus. Each of these is involved in one of the models of chronic fetal distress and requires a specific pattern of maternal-fetal surveillance for each condition in order to avoid perinatal morbidity and mortality.