Review on Electronic Fetal Heart Rate Monitoring

Abstract

Electronic Fetal Monitoring was introduced in clinical practice without proper randomised trials and since then it is widely employed as a method for surveillance of fetuses at risk of hypoxia during antenatal and intrapartum period. Failure to recognise cardiotocographic abnormalities and delay in communication and timely action or combination of these can lead to poor outcome. In the presence of abnormal trace the clinical picture should be incorporated. Continuing education may improve interpretation of cardiotocograph. Despite high false positive rate in detection of fetuses at risk and increased caesarean section since its introduction, electronic fetal heart rate monitoring continues to be the main means of monitoring of fetuses at risk of hypoxia. (HKJGOM 2000 ; 1 : 106 - 112)