EFFECT OF FETAL MONITORING ON INCIDENCE OF CESAREAN-SECTION

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 49  (5) , 513-518
Abstract
To determine whether routine fetal monitoring inevitably increases the cesarean section rate, the pertinent literature was studied and the cesarean sections performed at Evanston Hospital [Evanston, Illinois, USA] during the last 8 yr were analyzed. Many authors have found a slight to moderate increase in cesarean section rates, but others have found no change or a decrease. At Evanstons Hospital, the primary cesarean section rate increased from 2.6% in 1968-1969-6.9% in 1974-1975. Only 19.2% of this increase was due to increased fetal distress; the magnitude of the increase was due to changes in other factors, notably, breech deliveries (29.5% of the increase) and dystocia (60.2% of the increase). The incidence of cesarean section is controlled by several complex variables, only 1 of which is fetal monitoring. To describe the fetal monitors as the cause of the increased cesarean section rate is to ignore these other equally profound changes in obstetric technique and philosophy.

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