BACKGROUND Monitoring of fetal heart rate (FHR) is important during labor since it is a sensitive marker to obtain significant information about fetal condition. To take immediate response during cesarean section (CS), we noninvasively derive FHR from maternal abdominal ECG. METHODS We recruited 17 pregnant women delivered by elective cesarean section, with abdominal ECG obtained before and d...

Fetal heart rate (FHR) decelerations are the commonest aberrant feature on cardiotocograph (CTG) thus having a major influence on classification of FHR patterns into the three tier system. The unexplained paradox of early decelerations (head compression— an invariable phenomenon in labor) being extremely rare [1] should prompt a debate about scientific validity of current categorization. This p...

Aim. There is no consensus about the normal fetal heart rate. Current international guidelines recommend for the normal fetal heart rate (FHR) baseline different ranges of 110 to 150 beats per minute (bpm) or 110 to 160 bpm. We started with a precise definition of "normality" and performed a retrospective computerized analysis of electronically recorded FHR tracings. Methods. We analyzed all re...

Objective: The development of an automated computerised system that will assist the early intrapartum diagnosis of fetal hypoxia. The proposed method is based on 1) a signal processing method named wavelet transform in order to estimate the power in different frequency ranges in various fetal states 2) the analysis of the continuous fetal pulse oximetry recordings (FSpO2) and 3) the utilisation...

The PhysioNet/CinC 2013 Challenge aimed to stimulate rapid development and improvement of software for estimating fetal heart rate (FHR), fetal interbeat intervals (FRR), and fetal QT intervals (FQT), from multichannel recordings made using electrodes placed on the mother’s abdomen. For the challenge, five data collections from a variety of sources were used to compile a large standardized data...

OBJECTIVES In resource-poor settings, the standard of care to inform labour management is the partograph plus Pinard stethoscope for intermittent fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring. We compared FHR monitoring in labour using a novel, robust wind-up handheld Doppler with the Pinard as a primary screening tool for abnormal FHR on perinatal outcomes. DESIGN Prospective equally randomised clinical...

As fetal electronic monitoring has become a routine practice in modern obstetric units, rapid and accurate Interpretation of the cardiotocograph tracings has become important. Decreased fetal heart rate (FHR) variability is the most constant finding observed in severe fetal distress in the ante partum period. An experienced obstetrician, if acquainted with electronic monitoring, can recognize t...

BACKGROUND The fetal heart rate (FHR) is commonly monitored during labor to detect early fetal acidosis. FHR variability is traditionally investigated using Fourier transform, often with adult predefined frequency band powers and the corresponding LF/HF ratio. However, fetal conditions differ from adults and modify spectrum repartition along frequencies. AIMS This study questions the arbitrar...

INTRODUCTION Late obstetric emergencies are time critical presentations in the emergency department. Evaluation to ensure the safety of mother and child includes rapid assessment of fetal viability, fetal heart rate (FHR), fetal lie, and estimated gestational age (EGA). Point-of-care (POC) obstetric ultrasound (OBUS) offers the advantage of being able to provide all these measurements. We studi...

Cardiotocography is the primary method for biophysical assessment of a fetal state. It is based mainly on the recording and analysis of fetal heart rate signal (FHR). Computer systems for fetal monitoring provide a quantitative description of FHR signals, however the effective methods for their qualitative assessment are still needed. The measurements of hydronium ions concentration (pH) in new...