Intrapartum vibratory acoustic stimulation after maternal meperidine administration.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effectiveness of the acoustic stimulation test in the interpretation of suspicious cardiotocograms obtained after meperidine administration to the mother during the first stage of labor.


METHODS
We studied 45 unselected parturients who received 50 mg meperidine i.m. when cervical dilatation was 5 cm. In all cases a decreased beat-to-beat variability of the fetal heart rate and fetal movements was noted after the injection of meperidine. A vibratory acoustic stimulation was performed in 25 patients (group A) while the remaining 20 (group B) had no stimulation.


RESULTS
After the meperidine injection, the acoustic-induced reactivity returned immediately in group A, while the spontaneous reactivity returned 30 minutes later. The mean number of fetal movements in all parturients was 8.71 +/- 2.18 before meperidine administration. Sixty minutes after the meperidine injection the mean number was 8.52 +/- 2.48 in group A and 1.65 +/- 1.81 in group B (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
The acoustic stimulation test is an effective method of interpreting suspicions CTG's obtained after meperidine administration to the mother during the first stage of labour.
Panayotopoulos
N
N
2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Athens, Areteion Hospital, Greece.
Salamalekis
E
E
Kassanos
D
D
Vitoratos
N
N
Loghis
C
C
Batalias
L
L
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015148:Cardiotocography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000187:drug effects*; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008614:Meperidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy