James et al. reported in 1958 that gas analysis of blood samples obtained from a clamped umbilical cord could reflect fetal hypoxia. Since then, cord blood gas analysis has become widely performed to objectively determine the fetal metabolic condition at the time of delivery when umbilical circulation stops. Multiple studies showed that this analysis, when combined with other neonatal factors, can help identify infants at risk for neonatal encephalopathy, which is vital for the early initiation of neuroprotective therapeutic strategies.
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