Fetal heart rate baselines in twins - Interobserver agreement in antepartum estimation

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2000

Authors

Joao Bernardes (Author) FMUP; Costa-Pereira A (Author) FMUP; Calejo, L (Author) Other; Diogo Ayres de Campos (Author) Other; Patricio, B (Author) Other; Pereira Leite, L (Author) Other

Journal

Title: JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE

Vol. 45

Pages: 105-108

ISSN: 0024-7758

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 2 Citations

Scopus - 2 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-001-0YF

Abstract (EN): OBJECTIVE: To assess interobserver agreement in antepartum estimation of fetal heart rate (FHR) baselines in twins. STUDY DESIGN: Two residents and one specialist in obstetrics and gynecology, all with special interest in FHR monitoring, independently estimated baselines in 162 consecutive antepartum FHR tracings recorded in 24 twins. Tracings were obtained with a dual-channel fetal monitor for the simultaneous recording of both twins' heart rates. Baselines were estimated, as single values corresponding to the mean of the lowest stable FHR segment, in the absence of fetal movements and uterine contractions, within physiologic limits (110-150 bents per minute [bpm]). If these criteria were not met, the possibility of persistent bradycardia or tachycardia was considered, and if this was confirmed in a tracing with at least 40 minutes, a baseline < 110 or > 150 bpm was chosen. Interobserver agreement was assessed by the proportions of agreement (PA), kappa statistic (K) and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICCC), with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: Interobserver agreement was excellent, with a PA of 0.90 (95% CI: 0.89-0.91), K of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.84-0.92) and ICCC of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.88-0.94). CONCLUSION: Interobserver agreement in antepartum estimation of fetal heart rate baselines in twins was excellent with the baseline concept used in this study.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 4