ACUTE EFFECT OF CIGARETTE-SMOKING ON THE FETAL HEART-RATE NONSTRESS TEST

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (4) , 422-425
Abstract
A major limitation in the use of the nonstress test (NST) is the high frequency of nonreactive NST in the absence of fetal distress. Exogenous factors causing loss of fetal heart rate reactivity (FHRR) are fully evaluated, although chronic smokers have an increased incidence of nonreactive NST in the absence of fetal distress. A group of chronically smoking high-risk pregnant women at 31-44 wk gestation was studied to determine if the acute effects of smoking caused the NST to become nonreactive. After a reactive NST was obtained, each patient smoked 1 cigarette and the effects on the fetus were observed. Studies (26) were performed on 25 patients. A transient mild elevation of baseline fetal heart rate was noted after smoking in several studies; no significant change was found in FHRR, indicating that the acute effects of smoking a single cigarette are not responsible for the increased incidence of nonreactive NST in smokers.

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