A comparative study of fetal heart rate variability analysis techniques

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2006:2006:1784-7. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2006.260258.

Abstract

This study examines a novel methodology for continuous fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) assessment in a non-stationary intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR). The specific aim was to investigate simple statistics, dimension estimates and entropy estimates as methods to discriminate situations of low FHRV related to non-reassuring fetal status or as a consequence of sedatives given to the mother. Using a t-test it is found that the dimension of the zero set and sample entropy reveal a difference in mean distribution of significance >99%. Thus it may prove possible to build a discriminating system based on either one or a combination of these techniques.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnosis*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / physiopathology*
  • Cardiotocography / methods*
  • Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Fetal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Fetal Diseases / physiopathology
  • Heart Rate*
  • Humans
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity