title: Fetal monitoring in the prehospital setting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prehospital emergency care providers have very little information regarding fetal perfusion adequacy in the field.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of the use of fetal monitoring in the prehospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mobile cardiotocometer was used for all consecutive pregnant women managed by our physician-staffed Emergency Medical Services unit. The visualization of interpretable tracings (both fetal heart rate and tocography) at the different stages of prehospital management was evaluated. Any change in a patient's management was also recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 145 patients enrolled during 119 inter-hospital transfers and 26 primary prehospital interventions. Interpretable tracings were obtained for 81% of the patients during the initial examination. This rate decreased to 66% during handling and transfer procedures. For 17 patients (12%), the monitoring led to a change in the patient's management.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that cardiotocography can be easily performed in the prehospital setting, and is usually feasible. Moreover, the study demonstrates a positive impact of fetal heart rate monitoring on prehospital management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Beaujon University Hospital, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: François-Xavier
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Duchateau
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pariente
authors.forename: Guillaume
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ducarme
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bohbot
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Belpomme
authors.forename: Marie-Laure
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Devaud
authors.forename: Adeline
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Max
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luton
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mantz
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ricard-Hibon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015148:Cardiotocography; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult