Improvements in fetal heart rate analysis by the removal of maternal-fetal heart rate ambiguities

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2015

Authors

Pinto, P (Author) FMUP; Cristina Costa Santos (Author) FMUP; Hernani Goncalves (Author) FMUP; Diogo Ayres de Campos (Author) FMUP; Joao Bernardes (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

Vol. 15

ISSN: 1471-2393

Publisher: Springer Nature

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 16 Citations

Scopus - 18 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00G-WX7

DOI: 10.1186/s12884-015-0739-1

Abstract (EN): Background: Misinterpretation of the maternal heart rate (MHR) as fetal may lead to significant errors in fetal heart rate (FHR) interpretation. In this study we hypothesized that the removal of these MHR-FHR ambiguities would improve FHR analysis during the final hour of labor. Methods: Sixty-one MHR and FHR recordings were simultaneously acquired in the final hour of labor. Removal of MHR-FHR ambiguities was performed by subtracting MHR signals from their FHR counterparts when the absolute difference between the two was less or equal to 5 beats per minute. Major MHR-FHR ambiguities were defined when they exceeded 1 % of the tracing. Maternal, fetal and neonatal characteristics were evaluated in cases where major MHR-FHR ambiguities occurred and computer analysis of FHR recordings was compared, before and after removal of the ambiguities. Results: Seventy-two percent of tracings (44/61) exhibited episodes of major MHR-FHR ambiguities, which were not significantly associated with any maternal, fetal or neonatal characteristics, but were associated with MHR accelerations, FHR signal loss and decelerations. Removal of MHR-FHR ambiguities resulted in a significant decrease in FHR decelerations, and improvement in FHR tracing classification. Conclusions: FHR interpretation during the final hour of labor can be significantly improved by the removal of MHR-FHR ambiguities.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 7