title: The effect of maternal methadone use on the fetal heart pattern: a computerised CTG analysis.
abstract: Using a computerised analysis, the cardiotocograph (CTG) from women who use methadone (n= 25) when compared with women who do not use methadone (n= 25) showed a significant reduction in the fetal heart baseline rate, with a significant reduction in number of accelerations and episodes of high variation. The short-term variation, number of decelerations and episodes of low variation were not different between the two groups. The time taken to meet the standardised criteria was not different, and it is possible that a computer-assisted CTG analysis could be more accurate than a naked eye interpretation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Hull and East Yorkshire Women and Children's Hospital, Hull Royal Infirmary, Hull, UK. rajikrishnan@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Navaneethakrishnan
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tutty
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sinha
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lindow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015148:Cardiotocography / Q000379:methods; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted; D005260:Female; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000534:rehabilitation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000534:rehabilitation
chemical_list: D009294:Narcotics; D008691:Methadone