[Usefulness of the examination of fetal blood oxygen saturation (FSpO2) and fetal heart rate (FHR) as a prognostic factor of the newborn outcome].

Abstract

Cardiotocography has become the standard for fetal monitoring in labor. False-positive findings during electronic fetal heart rate monitoring may were not associated with neonatal acidemia. Because of the poor specificity of fetal heart rate monitoring in predicting fetal distress, new methods are being investigated as a way to improve the accuracy of assessing the infant's condition during labor.
The aim of this study was to determinate the efficiency of fetal blood oxygen saturation (FSpO2) and computer analysis of the fetal heart rate (Co-CTG) in the late 1-st stage of labor as a prognostic factor of newborn acidemia.
Total 62 subjects were studied. During labors and deliveries fetal oxygen saturation was continuously recorded, with use of Nellecor N-400 fetal pulse oximeter and continous CTG were performed by Hewlett Packard 50A. Transdermal fetal oxygen saturation measurements and CTG results obtained during the labors was analyzed using MONAKO system (ITAM Zabrze). The results were compared with the values of pH and base deficit in the umbilical artery measured just after delivery.
The sensitivity, specificity, negative, positive predictive values and Youden factor based on FHR and FSpO2, for prognosis of neonatal acidosis were: 65%, 80%, 16%, 97.5% 60% and 0.135 respectively FHR; and 100%, 60%, 100%, 96.8% and 0.968 respectively FSpO2.
1. The examination of fetal blood oxygen saturation in the labor is a useful prognostic factor of the newborn outcome. 2. The best predictive value for intrapartum fetal asphyxia with metabolic acidosis was found when fetal pulse oximetry is added to cardiotocography.