title: Fetal vibroacoustic stimulation for facilitation of tests of fetal wellbeing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acoustic stimulation of the fetus has been suggested to improve the efficiency of antepartum fetal heart rate testing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the advantages and disadvantages of the use of fetal vibroacoustic stimulation in conjunction with tests of fetal wellbeing.
  
  
  METHODS
  We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (30 September 2013).
  
  
  METHODS
  All published and unpublished randomised controlled trials assessing the merits of the use of fetal vibroacoustic stimulation in conjunction with tests of fetal wellbeing.
  
  
  METHODS
  All review authors independently extracted data and assessed trial quality. Authors of published and unpublished trials were contacted for further information.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Altogether 12 trials with a total of 6822 participants were included. Fetal vibroacoustic stimulation reduced the incidence of non-reactive antenatal cardiotocography test (nine trials; average risk ratio (RR) 0.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.48 to 0.81). Vibroacoustic stimulation compared with mock stimulation evoked significantly more fetal movements when used in conjunction with fetal heart rate testing (one trial, RR 0.23, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.29).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vibroacoustic stimulation offers benefits by decreasing the incidence of non-reactive cardiotocography and reducing the testing time. Further randomised trials should be encouraged to determine not only the optimum intensity, frequency, duration and position of the vibroacoustic stimulation, but also to evaluate the efficacy, predictive reliability, safety and perinatal outcome of these stimuli with cardiotocography and other tests of fetal wellbeing.
authors: Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, Singapore, 229899.
authors: Kelvin H
authors: KH
authors: Tan
authors: Rebecca M D
authors: RM
authors: Smyth
authors: Xing
authors: X
authors: Wei
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D015148:Cardiotocography / Q000379:methods; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006340:Heart Rate, Fetal; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014732:Vibration / Q000009:adverse effects