Five randomized controlled trials have been published on intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring with ST analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram, but the debate on its usefulness has not yet been ended. We consider ST analysis a useful and cost-effective addition to conventional fetal heart rate monitoring. We will provide support for this opinion by discussing the pathophysiology of ST changes...

Noninvasive fetal health monitoring during pregnancy has become increasingly important in order to prevent complications, such as fetal hypoxia and preterm labor. With recent advances in signal processing technology using abdominal electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings, ambulatory fetal monitoring throughout pregnancy is now an important step closer to becoming feasible. The large number of electr...

The first recording of the fetal electrocardiogram was described 80 years ago. Since that time only the peak of the QRS complex has been used in fetal monitoring for the measurement of fetal heart rate. Attempts to quantify changes in the configuration and time constants have been attempted over the last 30 years but despite the data obtained from animal experiments suggesting configurational c...

Bioethics abolished the prevailing Hippocratic tenet instructing physicians to make treatment decisions, replacing it with autonomy through informed consent. Informed consent allows the patient to choose treatment after options are explained by the physician. The appearance of bioethics in 1970 coincided with the introduction of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM), which evolved to become the fet...

Electronic fetal monitoring is commonly used during labour to detect fetuses at risk of hypoxia and acidaemia, Interpretation is based on subjective assessment and informed by guidance from the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics and, in the UK, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. A Cochrane review provides clear evidence that neonatal seizures are less common ...

The electric fetal heart activity was firstly recorded as tiny deflections on maternal limb lead electrocardifogram (ECG) by Cremer [1], direct lead fetal ECG with needle electrode by Caldeyro-Barcia et al. [2] and with scalp lead clip electrode by Hon [3]. Indirect maternal abdominal lead fetal ECG (fECG) was recorded by Maeda and Nakano [4] and others. Intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR) was m...

Fetal acidemia during labor is associated with an increased risk of brain injury and lasting neurological deficits. This is in part due to the repetitive occlusions of the umbilical cord (UCO) induced by uterine contractions. Whereas fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring is widely used clinically, it fails to detect fetal acidemia. Hence, new approaches are needed for early detection of fetal acide...

The purpose of the study was to compare the accuracy of a noninvasive fetal heart rate monitor with that of ultrasound, using a fetal scalp electrode as the gold standard, in laboring women of varying body habitus, throughout labor and delivery. Laboring women requiring fetal scalp electrode were monitored simultaneously with the investigational device (noninvasive fetal ECG), ultrasound, and f...