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Abstract
Objective: The fundamental aim of the study was to verify if any longitudinal variations could be found in the measuring of variability of fetal heart rate through a computerized analysis in the period prior to the appearance of repetitive decelerations.
Methods: A longitudinal study on 11 patients with gestational hypertension, fetal asymmetric intrauterine growth retardation, and with altered peripheral doppler pulsatility indexes (UA/ICA ratio > 2 SD) was conducted by using the computerized fetal heart rate software “System 8000.”
Main Outcome Measures: The analysis of fetal heart rate variability indexes (long-term mean range and short term) was performed during the last 7 days preceding a cesarean section for fetal distress.
Results: A progressive and significant decrease (ANOVA P <. 001) in the percentual variation is observed both for mean range and for short-term variability if the values obtained during the recordings made 7 days before birth are taken into consideration and compared with those obtained the day before birth. On the contrary, there seems to be no significance in the variations of values obtained from daily controls. An abrupt decrease in short-term variability seems to precede the appearance of repetitive late decelerations.
Conclusions: Numerical automatic analysis of variability seems to help in the evaluation of fetal conditions before the appearance of repetitive decelerations although the daily variations might not be effective.