title: Intrapartum management of category II fetal heart rate tracings: towards standardization of care.
abstract: There is currently no standard national approach to the management of category II fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns, yet such patterns occur in the majority of fetuses in labor. Under such circumstances, it would be difficult to demonstrate the clinical efficacy of FHR monitoring even if this technique had immense intrinsic value, since there has never been a standard hypothesis to test dealing with interpretation and management of these abnormal patterns. We present an algorithm for the management of category II FHR patterns that reflects a synthesis of available evidence and current scientific thought. Use of this algorithm represents one way for the clinician to comply with the standard of care, and may enhance our overall ability to define the benefits of intrapartum FHR monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Corporation of America, Nashville, TN, USA.
authors.forename: Steven L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Michael P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Nageotte
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Garite
authors.forename: Roger K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Kathleen R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Belfort
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Dildy
authors.forename: Julian T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Parer
authors.forename: Richard L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Berkowitz
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Alton
authors.forename: Dwight J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Rouse
authors.forename: Larry C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Gilstrap
authors.forename: Anthony M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Vintzileos
authors.forename: J Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van Dorsten
authors.forename: Frank H
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Boehm
authors.forename: Lisa A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Gary D V
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Hankins
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: fetal heart rate monitoring; neonatal encephalopathy; patient safety