Oxytocin-stressed and unstressed cardiotocograms for the prediction of fetal compromise.
The results of unstressed and oxytocin-stressed cardiotocograms recorded in 222 high-risk pregnancies within 48 h of delivery were compared with signs of fetal distress in labour and Apgar scores. Thirty-nine (18%) developed a late deceleration pattern in labour and 18 newborn (8%) had Apgar scores of less than 7 at 1 min. A direct comparison of the predictive value of unstressed and stressed cardiotocograms, using Fisher's exact test, showed a very significant difference in favour of the stressed cardiotocogram for the prediction of both fetal compromise and fetal well-being. The exclusion, or very selective use, of the oxytocin-stressed cardiotocogram and reliance on the unstressed cardiotocogram for the antepartum investigation of high-risk pregnancies sacrifices accuracy for convenience.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001034:Apgar Score; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D010121:Oxytocin; D011247:Pregnancy; D011379:Prognosis
D010121:Oxytocin