Revisiting the use of the electronic fetal monitor.

The identification of high-risk pregnancies that would benefit from the use of electronic fetal monitoring during labour remains an important research issue. In this issue of The Lancet, Lawrence Impey and colleagues report the results of a randomised controlled trial that assessed the efficacy of admission cardiotocography for 8580 low-risk women in labour as measured by reductions in the rate of neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Like the 1985 trial from the same institution that assessed the efficacy of intrapartum fetal monitoring,4 this study is carefully designed and well conducted.