Mathematical model for educational simulation of the oxygen delivery to the fetus

Abstract Critical situations in obstetrics and anesthesia of the pregnant woman are rare and associated with a high risk to the woman and fetus involved. Therefore, simulation is a valuable tool in teaching the diagnostic and therapeutic skills in this context. We derive a mathematical model for the oxygen supply to the fetus that was specifically designed for educational simulations. The model reflects the hemodynamics and the oxygen transport. Parameter values for human patients are derived from the literature data. We validate the response of the model, with parameters reflecting the fetal lamb, to various reductions of the uterine and umbilical blood flow.