title: Fetal and maternal heart rate confusion during intra-partum monitoring: comparison of trans-abdominal fetal electrocardiogram and Doppler telemetry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare intra-partum performance of trans-abdominal electrocardiogram with Doppler telemetry.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this prospective longitudinal study, simultaneous monitoring with trans-abdominal ECG and Doppler telemetry was performed in 41 uncomplicated term singleton pregnancies during labour.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall success rate for FHR monitoring was similar between trans-abdominal ECG and Doppler telemetry (88.5 ± 16.7% vs 89.4 ± 7.6%), except for the second stage of labour. A significantly higher rate of confusion (p < 0.001) between fetal and maternal heart was found for Doppler telemetry (4.5 ± 4.5%) compared with trans-abdominal ECG (1.3 ± 1.9%), especially in the second stage and during maternal movements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trans-abdominal ECG monitoring is feasible, with comparable success rate to traditional Doppler telemetry, without interfering with maternal mobility or requiring midwife intervention. The reduction in maternal\fetal heart rate confusion from trans-abdominal ECG could reduce incorrect obstetric interpretation.
authors: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Children's Hospital Vittore Buzzi, University of Milan, Italy. stampta@libero.it
authors: Tamara
authors: T
authors: Stampalija
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Signaroldi
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Mastroianni
authors: Eleonora
authors: E
authors: Rosti
authors: Valentina
authors: V
authors: Signorelli
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Casati
authors: Enrico M
authors: EM
authors: Ferrazzi
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen; D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005324:Fetal Movement / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000502:physiology*; D033261:Maternal-Fetal Relations / Q000502:physiology; D009035:Mothers; D011247:Pregnancy; D012107:Research Design; D013686:Telemetry / Q000379:methods