Impediments to a unified international approach to the interpretation and management of intrapartum cardiotocographs

J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2017 Feb;30(3):272-273. doi: 10.3109/14767058.2016.1174207. Epub 2016 Apr 26.

Abstract

There is much inconsistency in management recommendations for cardiotocograms by international organizations. Impediments to achieving consensus include disagreement on the spectrum of risk of fetal acidemia, different fetal heart rate pattern display due to differing chart paper speed, and the necessity for ancillary testing in confirming fetal acidemia.

Keywords: Fetal acidemia; fetal hypoxia; intrapartum.

MeSH terms

  • Acidosis / diagnosis*
  • Acidosis / physiopathology
  • Cardiotocography / methods
  • Cardiotocography / standards*
  • Consensus
  • Female
  • Fetal Hypoxia / diagnosis*
  • Fetal Hypoxia / physiopathology
  • Heart Rate, Fetal / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Assessment