The suspicious contraction stress test.
From a clinical service using the contraction stress test as an evaluator of fetal well-being, a 37-month review of the significance of the suspicious contraction stress test was performed. There were no antepartum losses in a group of 107 patients whose initial test was suspicious. Following each testing a number of patients delivered spontaneously or were delivered for other reasons. Results in 5 of 67 patients at the second testing changed from a suspicious to a positive test, 36 became negative, and 26 remained suspicious. There were no further conversions to a positive test after the second testing. There is a strong correlation between the loss of fetal heart reactivity and the repeated suspicious contraction stress test. The chief value of the suspicious test is as a marker in the high-risk pregnancy appraisal for consideration of additional fetal and maternal evaluation and possible clinical management alteration.
D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D012306:Risk; D014590:Uterine Contraction