Systematic Documentation of Fetal Heart Rate (FHR) Patterns and the Correlation with pH Computed in the Umbilical Artery

Authors

  • V.M. Roemer Schützenberg
  • R. Walden Schützenberg

Keywords:

Computer analysis of the FHF, FHF, Micro-fluctuation, Oscillation amplitude, WAS – score, Computed fetal pH-values.

Abstract

Introduction: A new computer program was written to analyze FHR-tracings of 601 fetuses from the Frauenklinik Detmold in Germany. This program is demonstrated in this paper using data of one fetus only.

Material and methods:  During a time period of eleven years 601 FHR-tracings were recorded electronically and further analyzed. To demonstrate the program only one fetal case was further analyzed: 1.) In this case we measured the fetal heart frequency (FHF) and one broad deceleration, 2.) the micro-fluctuation (micro) of this fetus and the micro during the large deceleration, 3.) the oscillation amplitude (OZA) during the whole CTG and the OZA during this broad deceleration. In addition the weighted WAS-score (reference 14) was determined and the actual pH-value was computed (not measured) for umbilical blood. All these parameters are available in each case of these 601 fetuses.

Results: Besides the electronic CTG-analysis it is new to determine the actual pH-values in umbilical blood using only the FHF: Both variables are not identical but belong closely together. The FHR helps to determine fetal well being and it helps to compute the pH-values in umbilical fetal blood. Therefore, micro-blood sampling (MBU) according to E. Saling seems to be no more necessary. These results are preliminary because our number of MBU’s is still small. The new program is able to analyze FHR-tracings thoroughly and to determine the pH-values in umbilical blood continuously.However, FHR-monitoring with a small computer seems to be necessary.

Conclusions: The fetus in utero can be monitored seriously using his FHR together with other parameters. In hypoxic danger, the foetus can be monitored sufficiently without intermittent control of his actual pH-values in peripheral blood. Fetal pH-values can be determined approximately and continuously using only the FHR.

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Published

2015-07-02

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 2 (2015)

Section

Articles

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