Fetal short time variation during labor: a non-invasive alternative to fetal scalp pH measurements?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether short time variation (STV) of fetal heart beat correlates with scalp pH measurements during labor.


METHODS
From 1279 deliveries, 197 women had at least one fetal scalp pH measurement. Using the CTG-Player, STVs were calculated from the electronically saved cardiotocography (CTG) traces and related to the fetal scalp pH measurements.


RESULTS
There was no correlation between STV and fetal scalp pH measurements (r=-0.0592).


CONCLUSIONS
Fetal STV is an important parameter with high sensitivity for antenatal fetal acidosis. This study shows that STV calculations do not correlate with fetal scalp pH measurements during labor, hence are not helpful in identifying fetal acidosis.
Schiermeier
Sven
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Witten/Herdecke School of Medicine, Marien-Hospital, Witten, Germany.
Reinhard
Joscha
J
Hatzmann
Hendrike
H
Zimmermann
Ralf C
RC
Westhof
Gregor
G
D000138:Acidosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015148:Cardiotocography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005311:Fetal Hypoxia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012535:Scalp; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult