Mean plasma lactate level in neonates with birth asphyxia

Aim: to determine the mean plasma lactate level in neonates with birth asphyxia. study design: it was a cross sectional study. duration: from jan 2013 to dec 2013. method: neonates with apgar score <5 at 5 minutes,fetal distress (presence of meconium-stained liquor),gestational age >34 weeks,weight >2000 grams and umbilical arterial gas ph <7.0 were included in our study. plasma lactate investigation was sent to pns shifa laboratory within 6 hours of delivery. data was analyzed on spss version 10. mean and standard deviation was presented for age,gestational age,weight of the neonates and plasma lactate level. effect modifiers like gender,gestational age and weight of the neonates were controlled through stratification,t test was applied results: the average age of the patients was 4.58±0.29hours. the average weight of the neonates in kg was 2.78±0.04 (95%ci: 2.70 to 2.86),gestational age in weeks 37.81±0.208 (95%ci: 37.39 to 38.22) similarly mean plasma lactate 6.57±2.399 mmol/l (95%ci: 5.38 to 7.12) on comparison of plasma lactate with gender no significant difference observed,mean value of plasma lactate among males was 5.9609 ± 3.499 mmol/l which was lower than female patients 6.7438 ± 4.85 mmol/l. conclusion: the mean plasma lactate level in neonates with birth asphyxia in our study was found to be 6.57±2.399 mmol/l.