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PubMed1994

A flat decelerative fetal heart rate tracing with normal fetal heart rate variability.

We report two cases for which computer interpretation of nonstress test indicated a flat decelerative trace in spite of normal fetal heart rate variability. Fetal behavioral state in the first case and signal loss in the second case were possibly responsible for this computerized interpretation of the tracings in the absence of fetal distress.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Computerized analysis of acute and chronic changes in fetal heart rate variation and fetal activity in association with maternal smoking.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the acute and chronic changes in fetal heart rate and fetal activity in association with maternal smoking by means of a computerized fetal behavior assessment program. STUDY DESIGN: In 13 term nonsmokers and 13 term smokers, fetal behavior was analyzed for 2 consecutive periods of >60 minutes. In between these 2 periods, the smokers were allowed to smoke 1 cigarette, the nonsmokers were allowed a short break of comparable time span. Fetal heart rate variation and fetal activity were recorded by a single 1.5-MHZ ultrasound transducer. The percentage of time spent in low and high fetal heart rate variation and fetal activity were analyzed by computer before and after the short break for nonsmokers and before and after the smokers smoked the 1 cigarette. Smoking-induced changes in Doppler umbilical artery recordings were also investigated. Chronic exposure to cigarette smoke was objectively evaluated by measuring the carbon monoxide concentration in expired air in all participating women after breath holding. RESULTS: Fetuses chronically exposed to cigarette smoke spent significantly more time in a low fetal heart rate variation pattern, while fetal activity was decreased both in high and low fetal heart rate variation periods. After maternal smoking, no acute changes were observed in fetal heart rate variation, yet a reduction in fetal activity was noted; however, this only reached statistical significance in periods of high fetal heart rate variation. No significant change in mean fetal heart rate was observed, yet a significant reduction in the frequency of accelerations was noted. Smoking caused an acute and transient increase in the mean pulsatility index in the umbilical artery. CONCLUSION: The computer program was able to detect changes in fetal behavioral variables in association with acute and chronic smoking. These changes may be suggestive of altered neurodevelopmental maturation possibly resulting from chronic fetal hypoxemia. This computer program offers a real possibility that analysis of fetal behavioral variables can be brought into routine clinical practice. Incorporating an analysis of these behavioral variables into smoking cessation programs may render them more successful.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

STAN S21 fetal heart monitor for fetal surveillance during labor: an observational study in 637 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of the STAN fetal heart monitor for intrapartum fetal monitoring using cardiotocography (CTG) and fetal electrocardiography (ECG). DESIGN: Prospective observational study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between August 2000 and November 2002, 637 high-risk labors were monitored using a STAN S21 fetal heart monitor, providing CTG plus automatic ST analysis of the fetal ECG. Guidelines with recommendations about when to intervene were available. During the study period labor-ward personnel were systematically instructed about the (patho)-physiology of asphyxia and CTG and ST changes during labor. RESULTS: Four hundred and forty-nine recordings were available for analysis of outcome in relation to ST changes. In 61 cases, ST changes requiring intervention occurred > 10 min before birth. In 35 (57%) of these cases, umbilical artery blood pH at delivery was < 7.15. Eighteen (4.0%) neonates were born with metabolic acidosis (umbilical artery pH < 7.05 and extracellular base deficit > 12 mmol/l). Significant ST changes (18-31 min before birth) were present in all five cases with pH < 7.00 and in six of the 13 cases with pH of 7.00-7.04 (false-negative rate 1.6%). Neonatal follow-up showed no adverse outcome. One hundred and ninety-two fetal blood samples (121 in the first stage and 71 in the second stage of labor) were taken from 142 women. Fetal scalp blood pH was < 7.15 in ten samples, 7.15-7.19 in 11 samples, 7.20-7.24 in 30 samples and > or =7.25 in 141 samples. ST changes occurred in eight (80%), six (55%), nine (30%) and 15 (11%) of these cases, respectively. In 188 (29.5%) women, outcome could not be analyzed in relation to ST changes because of inadequate recording (time between end of recording and delivery > 20 min or poor signal quality) or the absence of umbilical cord gases. In this group, four (2.1%) neonates with metabolic acidosis were born. In three of these cases the fetal ECG signal was of was poor quality and in one case the recording had ended 60 min before birth. CONCLUSION: ST changes were present in all five cases with severe metabolic acidosis (umbilical artery pH < 7.00). ST changes occurred in 46% of cases with mild metabolic acidosis. CTG plus ST analysis was more specific in detecting fetal acidemia than CTG alone.

Acidosis↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fetal heart rate monitoring casebook. Checkmark fetal heart rate pattern and normal neonatal outcome.

BACKGROUND: A checkmark pattern of the fetal heart rate (FHR) had been seen in association with hypoxia in human and animal fetuses. CASE: We report a checkmark pattern in a fetus of a 26-year-old primigravida who underwent induction of labor at term. Scalp pH was 7.32. Comprehensive ultrasound examination revealed normal results. The neonate was born in satisfactory condition. Apgar scores were 7 and 10 at 1 at 5 minutes of life, respectively. CONCLUSION: Checkmark FHR pattern may be a benign finding; however, if it is detected, it should be closely monitored.

Adult↗
PubMed1986

The umbilical artery blood flow velocity waveform in relation to fetal breathing movements, fetal heart rate and fetal behavioural states in normal pregnancy at 37 to 39 weeks.

In 19 normal pregnancies between 37 and 39 weeks of gestation, the blood flow velocity waveform (FVW) of the umbilical artery was studied in relation to fetal breathing movements, fetal heart rate (FHR) and the fetal heart rate patterns (FHRPs) A and B. FHRP A is stable, with a narrow oscillation bandwidth, FHRP B shows a wider oscillation bandwidth. Although for state-assessment it is necessary to record three variables simultaneously, the linkage of these variables in the near-term healthy fetus is such, that FHRP A and B may be used for the assignment of behavioural states 1F and 2F. The FVW was characterized by the Pulsatility-Index (PI). Presence of fetal breathing movements strongly disturbed the regularity of the FVW. A significant inverse relationship between FHR and PI was established. A weighted regression coefficient was calculated: PI decreases 0.0075 with an increase of FHR of 1 beat per minute (PI140 = PI / 0.0075(FHR - 140]. The PI was higher during periods of FHRP A as compared to FHRP B. However, this difference disappeared, when the influence of FHR was taken into account by normalising all PIs to a standard heart rate level of 140 bpm. One should perform the umbilical artery blood flow measurements in absence of fetal breathing--(causing irregularity of the FVW) and body movements (because of accompanying FHR accelerations) and FHR should be taken into account when evaluating the FVWs.

Blood Flow Velocity↗
PubMed2000

Effects of fetal and maternal breathing on the ultrasonic Doppler signal due to fetal heart movement.

Fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring is widely used to evaluate fetal health and is based on the detection of movements of the fetal heart by Doppler ultrasound. Fetal health can also be evaluated by prolonged observation of body- and pseudo-respiratory movements using two-dimensional ultrasound. Fetal breathing movements are in particular considered to be an important indicator of fetal well being. Ultrasonic Doppler signals caused by movements of the fetal heart were analyzed in detail. The signals were acquired from five healthy fetuses. Minor changes in the insonification geometry gave rise to great variations in the aspects of successive heartbeats. The signals are shown to contain information on both maternal and fetal respiratory movements. This may facilitate the development of a simple method for fetal respiration monitoring coupled to standard FHR monitoring.

Female↗
PubMed1986

Relation between fetal heart rate accelerations, fetal movements, and fetal breathing movements.

The presence of fetal heart rate (FHR) accelerations is considered a sign of fetal well-being. Fetal body and breathing movements, as visualized by real-time ultrasound, were correlated to FHR accelerations in 16 high-risk pregnancies. The association between FHR accelerations (greater than 15 beats/min lasting 15 sec or more) and the different fetal behavioral states is described.

Female↗
PubMed1981

Antepartum fetal evaluation by assessment of fetal heart rate and fetal movements.

Three antenatal monitoring tests--fetal movement acceleration test (FMAC-test), fetal heart rate-nonstress test (FHR-NST), and daily fetal movement recording (DFMR) were evaluated in 212 high risk pregnant women. While in 196 cases all three tests were normal, in 16 patients one to three tests showed pathological results. In the latter group, there was a significantly higher incidence of perinatal mortality, low Apgar score and growth retardation. Since false positives are known to occur in these tests, at least two should be pathological to warrant delivery in am attempt to prevent fetal death in utero. The sequence in which the pathology appears in the deteriorating fetus is as follows: the first to become non-reactive is the FMAC-test, followed by decreased fetal movements till cessation, and, finally, severe changes in the FHR-NST take place. The importance of this sequence of events is discussed.

Delivery, Obstetric↗
PubMed1993

Large fetal heart rate decelerations at term associated with changes in fetal heart rate variation.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to determine whether large antepartum decelerations in fetal heart rate were associated with a switch from high to low fetal heart rate variation, suggestive of a change in sleep state, and whether the variation predicted outcome. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective computerized analysis of 10,272 cardiotocographic records from 3998 patients at 37 to 42 weeks' gestation from four centers in England and Italy identified 140 good-quality records with large decelerations (more than 20 lost beats in area). RESULTS: In otherwise normal cardiotocograms a large deceleration had a 40% chance of association with a downward change in fetal heart rate variation (69% when the deceleration exceeded 100 lost beats). The change resembled that occurring naturally with behavioral states. Uterine contractions did not always precede large decelerations. When they did, the lag time (peak of contraction-trough of deceleration) increased from 28 seconds (at 20 to 29 lost beats) to > 100 seconds with increase in deceleration area. Of patients with large decelerations 76% had a normal vaginal delivery. CONCLUSION: Large decelerations near term, present in up to 5% of patients with otherwise normal fetal heart rate and variation, are often associated with a fall in fetal heart rate variation characteristic of a change in sleep state, without ominous significance.

Female↗
PubMed1980

Intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring. III. Association of meconium with abnormal fetal heart rate patterns.

Fetal heart rate (FHR) tracings of 284 fetuses with meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) and 1,672 fetuses without meconium staining were compared to investigate the significance of meconium associated with normal and abnormal FHR patterns. MSAF was found to be associated with significantly more low 1- and 5-minute Apgar scores and higher neonatal mortality rates than the control group without meconium. An increase in abnormal FHR patterns in the MSAF group over the control group as well as the postpartum sequelae of meconium itself was likely responsible for the unfavorable outcome. It is concluded that the presence of meconium should be viewed as a warning sign of fetal distress which warrants close intrapartum observation of the patient.

Amniotic Fluid↗
PubMed1991

Acute effects of maternal cigarette smoking on fetal heart rate and fetal body movements felt by the mother.

Acute effects of maternal cigarette smoking on fetal heart rate (FHR) and fetal body movements felt by the mother (FM) were studied in 51 pregnant volunteers. Thirty four were chronic smokers (6 or more cigarettes per day, with an average of 14 cigarettes/day) and 17 were sporadic smokers (1 to 5 cigarettes per day, with an averaged of 3 cigarettes/day). In both groups the number of FM, fetal reactivity and short-term FHR variability decreased significantly in the 20 minutes following cigarette smoking; a sustained FHR rise of 10 or more beats/min was also found after the cigarette in more than 50% of the cases in the 2 groups. No statistically significant differences were found among the 2 groups when the post-cigarette data were compared. We conclude that maternal cigarette smoking produces important acute effects upon FM and FHR regardless the average daily number of cigarettes smoked by the mother.

Female↗
PubMed1984

The relationship between fetal heart rate accelerations, fetal movements, and uterine contractions.

The association between fetal heart rate (FHR) accelerations and fetal movements during uterine contractions was studied in 52 pregnant women near term or at the beginning of labor. FHR and uterine contractions were recorded by tococardiograph. At the same time, fetal movements, whether associated or not with contractions, were viewed by real-time ultrasound. During uterine contractions, 95.5% of the FHR accelerations were associated with fetal movements. Also, 90.9% of the accelerations which appeared when the uterus was not contracting were associated with fetal movements. Fetal movements were not seen in 91% of uterine contractions which were not associated with FHR accelerations. The suggestion is made that uterine contractions stimulate both fetal movements and FHR accelerations.

Female↗
PubMed2003

Assessment of fetal heart rate and fetal movements in detecting oxygen deprivation in-utero.

This article reviews the physiological principles underlying the application of assessment of fetal movements and fetal heart rate (FHR) in detecting fetal hypoxia. Studies in both fetal sheep and healthy human fetuses are discussed including those which have demonstrated the importance of appreciating the existence of rest-activity cycles under normal physiological conditions. The role of adenosine in mediating the hypoxic inhibition of fetal breathing movements (FBMs) is reviewed as is the previously unrecognized importance of fetal gasping as a possible new measure of fetal hypoxia.

Animals↗