The impact of antepartum fetal heart rate monitoring on perinatal outcome.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to N Jagani.
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Umbilical artery velocity waves were measured in the fetuses from 130 pregnant women. One hundred eighty-five determinations were carried out from the fourteenth to the fortieth weeks of pregnancy. Detection of waveforms was carried out on an Angioscan Doppler spectrum analyzer. The umbilical artery velocity waves can be differentiated from other fetal signals by recognition of the pattern. The systolic peak of the velocity wave was divided by the end-diastolic value, thereby giving an S/D ratio. The use of a ratio overcomes the obstacle of not knowing the angle between the incident beam and the direction of motion. The umbilical velocity wave S/D ratio in normal pregnancies declines from 2.8 to 2.2 from 25 to 41 weeks. In pregnancies which result in a small-for-gestational age (SGA) fetus, the ratio is significantly higher, showing an average level of 3.8 at 29 weeks and declining to 3.0 at 40 weeks. Abnormal umbilical velocity wave values are seen in an SGA fetus, unexplained fetal death, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, and a twin transfusion syndrome. Application of this technique has the potential of being an important aid in prenatal care.
The role of the cervix in labor induction has been studied in a previous report. Cervical preparation by mechanical methods did not alter the course of induced labor. The same hypothesis is further elucidated in the present study using prostaglandin E2 vaginal suppositories for cervical preparation. Forty-seven pregnant women near term with Bishop scores of 4 or less were divided into three study groups: control subjects, oxytocin-treated patients, and prostaglandin group. A 12-hour preparation phase procedure was carried out to produce cervical and/or myometrial changes. All women had continuous measurement of uterine activity by an extraovular catheter. At the end of the preparation phase, the Bishop score was reevaluated, amniotomy carried out in all patients, and oxytocin infusion either started or continued. Although prostaglandin and oxytocin both significantly changed the cervix, oxytocin had the shortest induction-to-delivery interval, though the prostaglandin-treated group required lower concentrations of oxytocin. The authors conclude that with rigid control of Bishop score and timing of amniotomy and oxytocin infusion rates, prostaglandin-induced cervical changes alone did not uniquely benefit labor induction in the doses used, or within the time frame of the study.
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The intrapartum fetal heart rate tracings of 27 terms fetuses in breech presentation were analyzed to evaluate their immediate neonatal outcome. The tracings were quantitatively evaluated for comparison with Apgar scores and umbilical cord gases at delivery. Of the 27 cases, 12 had monitoring strips that scored 4 or less before birth. The P50 for acidosis at delivery (an umbilical artery pH of 7.25 or less) was 55 minutes for an intrapartum tracing that scored 4 or less. Fetuses with intrapartum tracings scoring 8 or more throughout labor had normal Apgar scores and cord gases. In comparing the present data with those of a previous study of vertex presentations, the authors found that given similar tracings, the breech fetus deteriorates more rapidly than the vertex fetus. Cesarean section is recommended if delivery is not imminent in a laboring breech and the intrapartum tracing deteriorates to score 4 or less.
An abnormal fetal heart rate (FHR) tracing is a sensitive indicator of positivity that disease exists, but the intrinsic predictive value of such a tracing is disappointingly low because of the large number of false positive results. Abnormal FHR tracings, defined as those having a persistent quantitative score of 4 or less, were measured against time and outcome. A baseline fetal scalp blood sample was taken. Twenty fetuses were acidotic at the first blood sample. There were 121 study cases, all of which were greater than 37 weeks' gestational age. All fetuses were average for gestational age. Amniotic fluid was clear, internal FHR tracings were initially normal, and the first pH was normal. A relative acidosis-free interval could be demonstrated during the first 90 to 100 minutes. Following this time period rapid cumulative acidosis was seen, which varied according to the FHR pattern observed. The P50 acidosis values for various patterns were late decelerations, 115 minutes; variable decelerations, 145 minutes; and flat line tracings, 185 minutes.
Sulprostone has been demonstrated to be effective as a parenteral abortifacient, but not as a vaginal suppository. A vaginal preparation was given to 19 women to determine its mechanism of action, and to confirm the principle of uterine conversion as a biological model for the induction of an early abortion. The drug was administered to women with confirmed pregnancies and amenorrhea and not exceeding 49 days. A 95% success rate was obtained with an incidence of drug related side effects of 20% as opposed to the general 80-90% figure of PGE2 and F2a. The hormone profile obtained revealed a parallel fall in hCG and estradiol, and progesterone. This study confirms the value of uterine conversion, a concept that describes the change in uterine reactivity following PG administration and determines the phase when uterine activity is no longer dependent on exogenous oxytocic medication.
A study on induction of labor was carried out to test the hypothesis that changing the cervix will enhance the effectiveness of induction of labor. Fifty pregnant women near term with Bishop scores of 4 or less were divided into 5 study groups, in which a 12-hour preparation phase procedure was carried out to produce cervical or myometrial changes. All women had continuous measurement of uterine activity by an extraovular catheter. The patients were divided into 1) control subjects, and into groups treated with 2) laminaria, 3) Foley catheter, 4) amniotomy, and 5) oxytocin infusion. These preparation techniques were used for 12 hours, after which rupture of membranes was carried out in all cases. Although all procedures significantly changed the cervix, none but oxytocin affected the induction-to-delivery interval. The authors concluded that when a study design rigidly controls for cervical Bishop score, timing of rupture of membranes, and oxytocin infusion rates, the cervical preparation alone will not enhance inducibility.
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The value of x-ray pelvimetry in labor has recently been questioned by many, although few morphometric data on the fetopelvic relationship have been presented. Fifty-one women who had dysfunctional labor, in whom both x-ray pelvimetry and oxytocin were used during clinical management, were studied. Twenty-seven were delivered by cesarean section, while 24 were delivered vaginally. Regression equations were developed for multiple pelvic indices versus birth weight. The analysis revealed no differences between the vaginal group and the cesarean section group. The design of this study suggests that the variables of pelvic measurements and birth weight do not provide a predictive tool for delivery outcome. The approximately 15% margin of dimensional differences between a successful outcome and a failed outcome is too small to be detected by current diagnostic methods.
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