Is end-stage deceleration of the fetal heart ominous?
End-stage deceleration (ESD) defined as deep and sustained fetal bradycardia during the second stage of labour was observed in 55 patients. Fetal well-being and neonatal outcome were assessed with fetal-scalp pH, umbilical-vein pH and 1-min Apgar score values. Only six infants with pathological fetal heart-rate patterns before ESD had a 1-min Apgar score of less than 7 and an acidotic umbilical-vein pH. The remaining 49 babies were born in excellent condition, although when ESD persisted for more than 15 min umbilical-vein pH decreased.
D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D001724:Birth Weight; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000032:analysis; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007748:Labor Stage, Second; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D011247:Pregnancy; D014471:Umbilical Veins