DECELERATION/CONTRACTION RATIOS AS AN INDEX OF FETAL HEALTH DURING LABOR

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 51  (6) , 666-670
Abstract
Internal FHR [fetal heart rate] tracings of 259 patients with variable decelerations and 49 with late decelerations were analyzed for frequency and severity of the pattern in an attempt to correlate with fetal pH or Apgar score at 1 min. A significant increase in risk of fetal acidosis was associated with a frequency of greater than 30% variable decelerations and 20% late decelerations. It increased with increase of severity of the pattern. Variable decelerations were not good predictors of Apgar scores .ltoreq. 6 at 1 min, but late decelerations were predictive when they occurred more than 20% of the time. The fetus with variable decelerations and normal pH was observed through the 1st stage of labor with a high degree of confidence. However, when a 20% or more moderate-to-severe late deceleration/contraction ratio was present, intervention was necessary even if scalp blood pH was normal. The FHR deceleration/uterine contraction (UC) ratio was a simple bedside technique for assessing fetal outcome.

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