The effect of early second stage bradycardia on newborn status

In the present study 45 patients with intrapartum cardiotocograms showing prolonged fetal bradycardia during the early second stage of labor were included. Bradycardia persisted for 180 s or more with either rapid or prolonged return to baseline, without loss of variability and rise of baseline feta...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology 1997-04, Vol.72 (2), p.149-152
Main Authors: Loghis, C., Salamalekis, E., Panayotopoulos, N., Vitoratos, N., Zourlas, P.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Apgar Score
Biological and medical sciences
Bradycardia - physiopathology
Cesarean section
Delivery. Postpartum. Lactation
Disorders
Female
Fetal Blood - metabolism
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Heart Rate, Fetal
Humans
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Infant, Newborn
Intrapartum cardiotocograms
Medical sciences
Pregnancy
Prolonged fetal bradycardia
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Summary:In the present study 45 patients with intrapartum cardiotocograms showing prolonged fetal bradycardia during the early second stage of labor were included. Bradycardia persisted for 180 s or more with either rapid or prolonged return to baseline, without loss of variability and rise of baseline fetal heart rate (FHR). The mean duration of bradycardia was 5.0 ± 1.3 min. In the group with normal FHR tracings the rate of normal delivery (73.3%) was significantly higher than that of the group with fetal bradycardia (26.7%, P < 0.0001). We also noted a significantly higher rate of cesarean section (44.4%) in patients with abnormal FHR tracings, compared to that (11.1%) of parturients with normal FHR tracings ( P < 0.001). In all cases blood samples were obtained from the umbilical cord artery, immediately after delivery. Only in two cases with abnormal FHR tracing umbilical cord artery was the pH less than 7.20. We conclude that in most cases, prolonged fetal bradycardia in the early second stage with the characteristics described above is well tolerated by a mature fetus.
ISSN:0301-2115
1872-7654
DOI:10.1016/S0301-2115(96)02683-8