title: Cardiotocography alone versus cardiotocography plus Doppler evaluation of the fetal middle cerebral and umbilical artery for intrapartum fetal monitoring: a Greek prospective controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study was designed to assess the utility of Doppler velocimetry in the setting of non-reassuring cardiotocography tracings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred fifty six women with term singleton pregnancies were enrolled in a controlled trial. Patients received either routine cardiotocograpic (CTG) monitoring, or CTG with the addition of Doppler velocimetry in cases of non-reassuring CTG tracings. The results were analyzed according to protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the CTG+Doppler group, there was a trend toward lower risk of neonatal metabolic acidosis than in the CTG group, although the incidence was rare. The CTG+Doppler group had significantly lower rates of cesarean section for fetal distress, and improved neonatal outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that intrapartum fetal Doppler velocimetry, when combined with CTG, increases the clinicians' ability to accurately identify fetal hypoxia, and decreases the rate of Cesarean section.
authors.affiliation: University of Athens, 3rd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Athens, Greece. harrysiri@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Siristatidis
authors.forename: Demetrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kassanos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Salamalekis
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Creatsa
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chrelias
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Creatsas
mesh_terms: D015148:Cardiotocography; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020768:Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012212:Rheology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000502:physiology