Sonographic verification of a nuchal cord following a vibratory acoustic stimulation-induced severe variable fetal heart rate deceleration with expedient abdominal delivery.
A case is presented in which external vibratory acoustic stimulation performed following a nonreactive nonstress test produced a severe variable deceleration of the fetal heart rate. A clinically suspected nuchal cord was confirmed by ultrasound. This rapid precise antepartum diagnosis of cord compression prevented untimely delay and led to immediate abdominal delivery of a nonacidotic, yet hypoxic, infant. This report suggests care be taken when fetal vibratory acoustic stimulation is applied in cases of oligohydramnios and a known existing nuchal cord.
Sherer
D M
DM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York 14642.
Abramowicz
J S
JS
Hearn-Stebbins
B
B
Woods
J R
JR
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000328:Adult; D002585:Cesarean Section; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D016104:Oligohydramnios / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*