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Application of a real‐time microcomputer monitoring system: surveillance of induced labour by uterine activity quantitation
Author(s) -
TROMANS P. M.,
BEAZLEY J. M.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
bjog: an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.157
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1471-0528
pISSN - 1470-0328
DOI - 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1983.tb06744.x
Subject(s) - oxytocin , medicine , uterine contraction , anesthesia , uterus
Summary. The uterine activity of women during induced labour was analysed with a real‐time Commodore PET 2001 series microcomputer. The active contraction area was measured in torr‐min (1 torr = 0.133 kPa) per 10 min epochs [uterine activity unit (UAU)/10 min]. Surgical induction was followed immediately by administration of a geometric oxytocin infusion and all patients received epidural analgesia. Twenty‐eight primigravidae for whom inductographic and partographic progress were normal had a mean ‘stable phase’ uterine activity of 118±2 SD 43 UAU/10 min (≡942±2 SD 343 kPas/10 min) whereas 15 multiparae had a mean ‘stable phase’ of 83±2 SD 34 UAU/10 min (≡662±2 SD 271kPas/10min). This difference was significant ( P <0.01). The construction of uterine activity charts is described and their clinical application discussed.