The rapid biophysical profile for assessment of fetal well-being.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the efficacy of the rapid biophysical profile (BPP), the combination of amniotic fluid index (AFI) and sound-provoked fetal movement (SPFM) detected by ultrasound, in predicting intrapartum fetal distress in high-risk pregnancies, compared with the nonstress test (NST).


METHODS
The prospective study of diagnostic tests was conducted on a total of 1,069 high-risk singleton pregnancies, undergoing antepartum assessment of both the standard NST and the new rapid BPP, including AFI and SPFM detected by ultrasound. Intrapartum continuous fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring was performed in all of them. The diagnostic indices of the NST and the rapid BPP was calculated in term of predicting intrapartum fetal distress.


RESULTS
The rapid BPP was a reliable predictor of intrapartum fetal distress with higher sensitivity and specificity. Its accuracy was better than that of the NST. The incidence of fetal compromise among positive, equivocal, and negative tests of the rapid BPP are 78.57, 15.82 and 0.9%, respectively, whereas the incidence among nonreactive and reactive NST are 31.63 and 2.52%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The rapid BPP is an effective predictor of intrapartum fetal distress in high-risk pregnancies. It may suffice as an inexpensive and less time-consuming method of evaluating antepartum fetal well-being.
Tongsong
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Thailand.
Piyamongkol
W
W
Anantachote
A
A
Pulphutapong
K
K
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005316:Fetal Distress / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000592:standards*; D005324:Fetal Movement; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal