Detailed multigrade evaluation of fetal disorders with the quantified actocardiogram.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate fetal disorders using detailed quantitative values from the actocardiogram (ACG) involving simultaneous tracing of ultrasonic Doppler fetal movement bursts and fetal heart rate (FHR).


METHODS
Duration of FHR accelerations and fetal movement bursts were measured manually in 20 common fetal disorders. The severity of the fetal disorder was estimated using the FHR acceleration duration to movement burst ratio (A/B ratio) and 10-0 clinical severity ranks derived from the A/B ratio. The correlation of the A/B ratio and 1 and 5 min Apgar scores, as well as numerically expressed long-term outcomes were studied.


RESULTS
A/B ratios were significantly correlated with the 1 and 5 min Apgar scores and the numerically evaluated long-term outcomes. Controversial cases of FHR pattern were more easily understood using the A/B ratio. The 10-0 severity derived from the A/B ratio was useful in clinical fetal studies.


CONCLUSIONS
Common fetal disorders were evaluated quantitatively and in more detail using the A/B ratio from the actocardiogram than when using common binary good or bad evaluation. The A/B ratio was useful in outcome estimation, where the prognostic capability of the A/B ratio was confirmed by significant correlation with 1 and 5 min Apgar scores and long-term outcomes of fetal disorders.
Maeda
Kazuo
K
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan. maedak@mocha.ocn.ne.jp
Iwabe
Tomio
T
Yoshida
Souichi
S
Ito
Takashi
T
Minagawa
Yukihisa
Y
Morokuma
Seiichi
S
Pooh
Ritsuko K
RK
Fuchiwaki
Taisuke
T
D001034:Apgar Score; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005324:Fetal Movement; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D010927:Placental Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011247:Pregnancy; D014463:Ultrasonography