A comparative study of the fetal electrocardiogram recorded by the STAN an Nottingham systems.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the T:QRS ratio recorded by the STAN and Nottingham fetal electrocardiogram (FECG) monitors.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
London teaching hospital delivery suite and research unit.


METHODS
The T:QRS ratios generated by the STAN and Nottingham FECG monitors were simultaneously recorded and compared using signals generated from a computer-produced ECG signal and signals from 11 term fetuses recorded during labour.


RESULTS
There was an acceptable level of agreement between the two systems with the computer-generated signals, but it was not clinically acceptable with the signals from the fetuses recorded during labour. Disagreements in the T:QRS values were probably due to differences in the reference points for the measurement of the S-T segment and T-wave height.


CONCLUSIONS
The different points of reference for measurement of S-T segment and T-wave height can explain poor agreement between the two methods of FECG waveform analysis. The suggested adopted points of reference are those corresponding to adult electrocardiographic methodology.
Skillern
L
L
St. George's Hospital, London.
Cockburn
J
J
Benjamin
M
M
Pearce
J M
JM
Sahota
D
D
Reed
N
N
Mohajer
M
M
James
D
D
Symonds
M
M
D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005318:Fetal Heart / Q000502:physiology; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity