title: [Continous intrapartum fetal heart monitoring]
abstract: OBJECTIVE: To observe the prognostic value of intrapartum continuous fetal heart monitoring(FHM). METHODS: A review of 150 patients who had intrapartum FHM was performed. The relation between fetal heart rate and amniotic fluid condition, newborn Apgar scores, and delivery method was determined. RESULTS: Among the 150 cases,normal fetal heart rates were recorded in 108 cases. The abnormalities in the other 42 cases with abnormal FHM were as follows: cloudy amniotic fluid 27 cases(64.3%)compared with 17/108 (15.7%) in the normal FHM group (P<0.005); 10 cases (23.8%) had Apgar scores <8 compared with only 2 (1.85%) in the normal FHM group (P<0.005). In the abnormal FHM group,there were 15 cases (35.7%) of spontaneous labor,10 cases (23.8%) of forceps delivery and 17 cases (40.5%) of C-section compared with 81, 3, and 24 (75%,2.8%, and 22.2%) respectively in the normal FHM group (P<0.005). Spontaneous delivery was more common in the normal FHM (75%)compared with abnormal FHM group(35.7%). C-section rate was higher in the abnormal FHM group (40.5%) (P<0.005). CONCLUSION: Intrapartum fetal heart monitoring detects early fetal distress and thus may lead to earlier intervention such as C-section during the perinatal period.
authors.affiliation: The Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, College of Medical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310016, China.
authors.forename: He-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yong-Guan
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Huang