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ST waveform changes of the fetal electrocardiogram during labour—a clinical study
Author(s) -
LILJA H.,
GREENE K. R.,
KARLSSON K.,
ROSÉN K. G.
Publication year - 1985
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.1471-0528.1985.tb01400.x
Subject(s) - qrs complex , waveform , scalp , medicine , cardiology , fetal distress , fetus , cord , surgery , pregnancy , biology , physics , quantum mechanics , voltage , genetics
Summary. Waveform changes in the fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) are under reassessment as a means of fetal surveillance. The purpose of the study was t o identify ST waveform changes from the fetal scalp lead during labour and to compare any change with conventional signs of fetal distress. Two scalp electrodes provided a sufficiently stable signal from which ST waveform changes could be identified and measured as the T/QRS ratio. No infant was clinically hypoxic. Only 26%’of the 46 patients studied had a continuously normal CTG whereas 67% had no ST waveform abnormalities. A relation was found between the two variables as the mean T/QRS ratio increased from 0·20 (SD 0·11) during epochs of normal CTG to 0.27 (SD 0·17) with CTG changes. A linear correlation (r=0·58: P<0·01) was found between the T/QRS ratio before birth and the cord plasma lactate values.