The evaluation of continuous fetal heart rate monitoring in high-risk pregnancy.

Intrapartum electronic fetal heart rate monitoring of the high-risk obstetric patient is thought to improve the perinatal outcome. A prospective randomized study of 483 high-risk obstetric patients in labor was carried out comparing the effectiveness of electronic fetal monitoring with auscultation of fetal heart tones. The infant outcome was measured by neonatal death, Apgar scores, cord blood gases, and neonatal nursery morbidity. There were no differences in the infant outcomes in any measured category between the electronically monitored group and the auscultated group. The cesarean section rate was markedly increased in the monitored group (16.5 vs. 6.8 per cent in the auscultated patients). The presumptive benefits of electronic fetal monitoring for improving fetal outcome were not found in this study.

[1]  V. C. Kelly,et al.  Experiences With Fetal Monitoring in a Community Hospital , 1973, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[2]  H. Berendes,et al.  Fetal Heart Rate as a Predictor of Fetal Distress: A Report from the Collaborative Project , 1968, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[3]  THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE CHANGES IN THE CONTINUOUS FETAL HEART RATE IN THE FIRST STAGE OF LABOUR , 1971, The Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology of the British Commonwealth.

[4]  E H Hon,et al.  Clinical fetal monitoring. V. Effect on perinatal outcome. , 1974, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[5]  L. Shenker.  Clinical experiences with fetal heart rate monitoring of one thousand patients in labor. , 1973, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[6]  E. Saling,et al.  The present situation of clinical monitoring of the fetus during labor. , 1973, Journal of perinatal medicine.

[7]  Facog,et al.  Correlation of Fetal Heart Rate‐Uterine Contraction Patterns With Fetal Scalp Blood pH , 1975, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[8]  R. Post,et al.  Routine Electronic Monitoring of Fetal Heart Rate and Uterine Activity During Labor , 1975, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[9]  R. Beard.  THE EFFECT OF FETAL BLOOD SAMPLING ON CAESAREAN SECTION FOR FETAL DISTRESS , 1968, The Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology of the British Commonwealth.

[10]  L. Cibils.  Clinical significance of fetal heart rate patterns during labor. II. Late decelerations. , 1975, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[11]  J. Jordan,et al.  Labor Monitoring: A Practical Experience , 1970, Obstetrics and gynecology.

[12]  E. Hon,et al.  The neonatal value of fetal monitoring. , 1975, Transactions of the Pacific Coast Obstetrical and Gynecological Society.

[13]  Gilchrist Ar.  Surgical aspects of congenital heart disease. , 1946 .

[14]  J. M. Brudenell,et al.  INTENSIVE CARE OF THE HIGH RISK FETUS IN LABOUR , 1971, The Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology of the British Commonwealth.

[15]  J T Dunne,et al.  Antepartum identification of the fetus at risk. , 1969, Canadian Medical Association journal.

[16]  R. Paul.  Clinical fetal monitoring. Experience on a large clinical service. , 1972, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.

[17]  M A Stenchever,et al.  Continuous electronic monitoring of fetal heart rate during labor. , 1973, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology.