ABSTRACT

Fetal heart rate monitoring was first started for knowing hypoxia and pH changes in the fetus, which can cause multiple fetal complications. The dreaded consequences of hypoxia and acidemia can lead to intrapartum or neonatal death. The less severe hypoxia may cause transient or long term effects in the fetus. CTG is very valuable in high-risk cases in which the abnormal fetal heart rate patterns had utmost impact on fetal outcome, in the mode of delivery and admission to neonatal intensive care unit. Normal umbilical cord pH is 7.2 to 7.4. Milder degrees of hypoxia/acidosis correspond to pH values between 7.0 and 7.20, while a pH below 7.0 denotes severe asphyxia and is associated with neurological dysfunction and neonatal death. The present study was conducted in a tertiary hospital in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. The study included 340pregnant women above 37 weeks gestation with singleton pregnancy and cephalic presentation admitted in labour.CTG score was obtained and cord blood samples were collected after delivery for pH estimation. APGAR score was given to neonates at 1 minute and 5 minutes after delivery and history of NICU admission noted. This study showed that abnormal and suspicious CTG scores were significantly associated with NICU admission of neonates, lower APGAR scores and acidic blood pH of the neonates. More than 92% of the cases with suspicious and abnormal CTG scores required NICU admission. Not only APGAR score at 1 minute but also APGAR score at 5 minutes are significantly associated with CTG score.CTG score estimation is a helpful tool for earlier detection of unfavourable neonatal outcomes prompting earlier intervention. Keywords: Cord blood pH;CTG score; Electronic fetal monitoring; Labour admission test; Neonatal outcome
Publication date: 15/02/2022

https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2022/February/MS_IJBPAS_2022_FEB_SPCL_1037.pdf

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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2022/11.2.1037