Continuous fetal heart rate monitoring in patients with preterm premature rupture of membranes undergoing expectant management

Comparison of fetal heart rate baseline estimation by the cardiotocograph network and clinicians: a multidatabase retrospective assessment study

Background

This study aims to compare the fetal heart rate (FHR) baseline predicted by the cardiotocograph network (CTGNet) with that estimated by clinicians.

Material and methods

A total of 1,267 FHR recordings acquired with different electrical fetal monitors (EFM) were collected from five datasets: 84 FHR recordings acquired with F15 EFM (Edan, Shenzhen, China) from the Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, 331 FHR recordings acquired with SRF618B5 EFM (Sanrui, Guangzhou, China), 234 FHR recordings acquired with F3 EFM (Lian-Med, Guangzhou, China) from the NanFang Hospital of Southen Medical University, 552 cardiotocographys (CTG) recorded using STAN S21 and S31 (Neoventa Medical, Mölndal, Sweden) and Avalon FM40 and FM50 (Philips Healthcare, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) from the University Hospital in Brno, Czech Republic, and 66 FHR recordings acquired using Avalon FM50 fetal monitor (Philips Healthcare, Amsterdam, The Netherlands) at St Vincent de Paul Hospital (Lille, France). Each FHR baseline was estimated by clinicians and CTGNet, respectively. And agreement between CTGNet and clinicians was evaluated using the kappa statistics, intra-class correlation coefficient, and the limits of agreement.

Results

The number of differences <3 beats per minute (bpm), 3-5 bpm, 5-10 bpm and ≥10 bpm, is 64.88%, 15.94%, 14.44% and 4.74%, respectively. Kappa statistics and intra-class correlation coefficient are 0.873 and 0.969, respectively. Limits of agreement are -6.81 and 7.48 (mean difference: 0.36 and standard deviation: 3.64).

Conclusion

An excellent agreement was found between CTGNet and clinicians in the baseline estimation from FHR recordings with different signal loss rates.

The quality of intrapartum cardiotocography in preterm labour

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study is to determine the quality of the foetal heart rate (FHR) recording, defined as signal loss, during preterm labour below 28 weeks gestational age (GA) and contribute to the discussion if cardiotocography (CTG) is of value for the extreme preterm foetus.

METHODS

From January 2010 to December 2019 a retrospective study was conducted with data of 95 FHR recordings of singletons born between 24 and 28 weeks GA at the Amsterdam University Medical Centre, location VUmc. FHR tracings had a duration of at least 30 min and were obtained via external ultrasound mode. Data of all recordings were divided in two groups according to gestation (24-26 weeks and 26-28 weeks). Signal loss was analysed. Statistical significance was calculated by non-parametric tests and chi-square tests. The median signal loss and the proportion of cases exceeding the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics Guidelines (FIGO) threshold of 20% signal loss were calculated.

RESULTS

One-third of the recordings exceeded the 20% FIGO-criterion for adequate signal quality during the first stage of labour. In the second stage, this was nearly 75%. Similarly, the median signal loss was 13% during the first and 30% during the second stage of labour (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The quality of FHR monitoring in the extreme preterm foetus is inadequate in a large proportion of the foetuses, especially during the second stage. FHR monitoring is therefore controversial and should be used with caution.

Periviability: A Review of Key Concepts and Management for Perinatal Nursing

One of the most complex clinical problems in obstetrics and neonatology is caring for pregnant women at the threshold of viability. Births near viability boundaries are grave events that carry a high prevalence of neonatal death or an increased potential for severe lifelong complications and disabilities among those who survive. Compared with several decades ago, premature infants receiving neonatal care by today's standards have better outcomes than those born in other eras. However, preterm labor at periviability represents a more complex counseling and management challenge. Although preterm birth incidence between 20/7 and 25/7 weeks has remained unchanged, survival rates at earlier gestational ages have increased as perinatal and neonatal specialties have become more adept at caring for this at-risk population. Women face difficult choices about obstetric and neonatal interventions in light of uncertainties around survival and outcomes. This article reviews current neonatal statistics in reference to short- and long-term outcomes, key concepts in obstetric clinical management of an anticipated periviable birth, and counseling guidance to ensure shared-decision making.

Compressed sampling for heart rate monitoring

For the first time compressed sampling (CS) has been applied to heart rate (HR) measurements. The signals can be reconstructed from samples far below the Nyquist rate with negligible small errors, a sampling reduction of 8 has been demonstrated in the paper. As a result, the bitrate of the CS sampler is half when compared to a normal sampler. A lower bitrate leads to a reduction in power consumption for HR measurement devices.

Correlation between fetal heart rate reactivity and mortality and severe neurological morbidity in extremely low birth weight infants

OBJECTIVE

To determine the correlation between specific fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities and the incidence of death, severe (grade 3-4) intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) and periventricular echogenicity (PVE) in extremely low birth weight infants (ELBW) within the first 4 days after birth.

METHODS

The study included live-born ELBW infants ≤ 30 weeks' gestation who were born in 2000-2007 at Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel, and, who had FHR monitoring during the 24 h before delivery and cranial ultrasound during the first 4 days of life. FHR pattern was analyzed for the presence of baseline rate, reactivity, variability and decelerations.

RESULTS

96 infants with mean birth weight 757 ± 150 g and mean gestational age 25.8 ± 1.5 weeks were included. By 4 days of life, 23/96 (24%) died, 17/96 (18%) developed severe IVH and 31/96 (32%) had PVE. Absence of reactivity was significantly associated with increase in both death (p = 0.02, OR 3.45, 95% CI: 1.22-9.47 and severe IVH (p = 0.029, OR 3.33, 95% CI: 1.25-10) but not with PVE. Other FHR parameters were not associated with adverse outcome.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that FHR reactivity may be of value in predicting short-term outcome in ELBW infants. This may be helpful in counseling parents with imminent extremely preterm birth.

Monoamniotic twin pregnancy: continuous inpatient electronic fetal monitoring-an impossible goal?

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the effectiveness of continuous fetal monitoring in monoamniotic twins and assess the percentage of successful monitoring across gestation.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a single-center retrospective cohort analysis of monoamniotic twins. Each subject's entire electronic fetal heart tracing was reviewed. The primary outcome measure was the percentage of time that 0, 1, and 2 fetuses were successfully monitored. To compare the effectiveness of monitoring across gestation, these data were stratified by gestational age (<27, 27-30, and >30 weeks).

RESULTS

A total of 10,402 hours of fetal monitoring were reviewed for 17 monoamniotic twin pairs. Successful monitoring of 0, 1, and 2 fetuses occurred 21.2%, 27.1%, and 51.6% of the time, respectively. Successful monitoring of both fetuses was positively correlated with gestational age (<27 weeks 37%; 27-30 weeks 51%; >30 weeks 57%; P < .007).

CONCLUSION

Successful monitoring of both fetuses occurred 51.6% of the time. Continuous monitoring efficiency improved with advancing gestational age.