Skip to main content
Download PDF
- Main
Evaluation of Respiratory Emissions During Labor and Delivery
Published Web Location
https://doi.org/10.1097/aog.0000000000004533Abstract
Objective
To characterize respiratory emissions produced during labor and vaginal delivery vis-à-vis the potential for transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).Methods
Observational study of three women who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 and had uncomplicated vaginal deliveries. Using background-oriented schlieren imaging, we evaluated the propagation of respiratory emissions produced during the labor course and delivery. The primary outcome was the speed and propagation of breath over time, calculated through processed images collected throughout labor and delivery.Results
In early labor with regular breathing, the speed of the breath was 1.37 meters/s (range 1.20-1.55 meters/s). The breath appeared to propagate faster with a cough during early labor at a speed of 1.69 meters/s (range 1.22-2.27 meters/s). During the second stage of labor with Valsalva and forced expiration, the propagation speed was 1.79 meters/s (range 1.71-1.86 meters/s).Conclusion
Labor and vaginal delivery increase the propagation of respiratory emissions that may increase risk of respiratory transmission of SARS-CoV-2.Many UC-authored scholarly publications are freely available on this site because of the UC's open access policies. Let us know how this access is important for you.
Main Content
For improved accessibility of PDF content, download the file to your device.
Enter the password to open this PDF file:
File name:
-
File size:
-
Title:
-
Author:
-
Subject:
-
Keywords:
-
Creation Date:
-
Modification Date:
-
Creator:
-
PDF Producer:
-
PDF Version:
-
Page Count:
-
Page Size:
-
Fast Web View:
-
Preparing document for printing…
0%