Can vibroacoustic stimulation improve the efficiency of a tertiary care antenatal testing unit?

Abstract

Objective: Our primary objective was to determine whether vibroacoustic stimulation (VAS) decreases time to fetal reactivity in the antenatal testing unit (ATU) of a tertiary care center. Methods: We performed a prospective, quality assurance initiative to determine whether VAS could increase the efficiency of our ATU. On pre-specified “VAS days,” VAS was applied for 3 s, if the non-stress test was non-reactive in the first 10 min. Generalized estimating equations models were used to account for within subject correlation due to multiple appointments per patient. Results: VAS use was associated with a 3.76-min reduction in time to reactivity (21.79 vs 25.55, p = 0.011) and a 56% reduction in the need for a biophysical profile (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.21–0.90). Overall, however, we found no significant decrease in time spent on the monitor or in the ATU. Conclusion: Compliance with a strict VAS protocol may improve the efficiency of increasingly busy ATUs.

Keywords::

• Antenatal testing
• fetal well-being
• quality assurance initiative

Declaration of Interest: Poster (#690) entitled “The effect of vibroacoustic stimulation on time to reactivity in an antenatal testing unit” presented at the Society for Maternal Fetal Medicine in Dallas, Texas, on February 12, 2012. Awarded the 2012 S. Leon Israel Award by the Philadelphia Obstetrical Society for best paper submitted by a Philadelphia-area OB-GYN resident.The authors report no declarations of interest.