CONTINUOUS FETAL MONITORING FOLLOWING 3RD-TRIMESTER AMNIOCENTESIS

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 58  (4) , 444-449
Abstract
Patients (146) were monitored for 2 h after 3rd-trimester amniocentesis. The patterns of uterine and fetal activity, as well as fetal heart rate, were analyzed using the criteria for nonstress and contraction stress testing. There was a clear relationship between these observations and perinatal outcome. Postamniocentesis monitoring was associated with an Apgar score .ltoreq. 6 in only 10% of cases with reactive patterns, compared to 75% of cases with nonreactive patterns and reduced variability and in all cases with late-component deceleration. All cases of immediate fetal jeopardy were detected and there was no fetal loss. Postamniocentesis monitoring appears to offer significant prognostic information for perinatal outcome in high-risk pregnancy.