13.3 Handbook of CTG Interpretation

i
Handbook of CTG
Interpretation
ii
iii
Handbook of CTG
Interpretation
From Patterns to Physiology
Edited by
Edwin Chandraharan
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, and St George’s University of London, UK
iv
University Printing House, Cambridge CB2 8BS, United Kingdom
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First published 2017
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication data
Names: Chandraharan, Edwin, editor.
Title: Handbook of CTG interpretation: from patterns to physiology /
edited by Edwin Chandraharan.
Description: Cambridge, United Kingdom; New York:
Cambridge University Press, [2017] |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016047896 | ISBN 9781107485501 (pbk.)
Subjects: | MESH: Cardiotocography | Fetal Hypoxia – prevention & control |
Fetal Heart – physiology | Uterine Monitoring – methods
Classification: LCC RG618 | NLM WQ 209 | DDC 618.3261–dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016047896
ISBN 978-1-107-48550-1 Paperback
Cambridge University Press has no responsibility for the persistence or accuracy of
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and does not guarantee that any content on such websites is, or will remain,
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Every effort has been made in preparing this book to provide accurate and up-to-date information
which is in accord with accepted standards and practice at the time of publication. Although case
histories are drawn from actual cases, every effort has been made to disguise the identities of the
individuals involved.
Nevertheless, the authors, editors and publishers can make no warranties that the information
contained herein is totally free from error, not least because clinical standards are constantly
changing through research and regulation. The authors, editors and publishers therefore disclaim
all liability for direct or consequential damages resulting from the use of material contained in
this book. Readers are strongly advised to pay careful attention to information provided by the
manufacturer of any drugs or equipment that they plan to use.
v
Dedicated to all babies who have sustained

intrapartum hypoxic injuries and to all healthcare
providers who are focussed on reflective practice
and
To my teachers who inspired me to develop an
interest in human physiology and intrapartum care
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vii
Contents
List of Contributors page ix
Preface xi
Acknowledgements xv
Glossary xvii
1 ‘An Eye Opener’: Perils of CTG 9 Current Scientific Evidence

Misinterpretation: Lessons from on CTG 59
Confidential Enquiries and Medico- Ana Piñas Carrillo and Edwin
legal Cases 1 Chandraharan
Edwin Chandraharan
10 Role of Uterine Contractions
2 Fetal Oxygenation 6 and Intrapartum Reoxygenation
Anna Gracia-Perez-Bonfils and Edwin Ratio 62
Chandraharan Sadia Muhammad and Edwin
Chandraharan
3 Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate
Control and Types of Intrapartum 11 Intrapartum Monitoring of a
Hypoxia 13 Preterm Fetus 67
Anna Gracia-Perez-Bonfils and Edwin Ana Piñas Carrillo and Edwin
Chandraharan Chandraharan
4 Understanding the CTG: Technical 12 Role of Chorioamnionitis and
Aspects 26 Infection 71
Harriet Stevenson and Edwin Jessica Moore and Edwin
5 Applying Fetal Physiology to 13 Meconium: Why Is It
Interpret CTG Traces: Predicting the Harmful? 78
NEXT Change 32 Nirmala Chandrasekaran and
Edwin Chandraharan Leonie Penna
6 Avoiding Errors: Maternal Heart 14 Intrapartum Bleeding 82
Rate 41 Edwin Chandraharan
Sophie Eleanor Kay and Edwin
15 Labour with a Uterine Scar: The Role
Chandraharan
of CTG 87
7 Antenatal Cardiotocography 45 Ana Piñas Carrillo and Edwin
Francesco D’Antonio and Amar Bhide Chandraharan
8 Intermittent (Intelligent) 16 Impact of Maternal Environment on
Auscultation in the Low-Risk Fetal Heart Rate 91
Setting 55 Ayona Wijemanne and Edwin
Virginia Lowe and Abigail Archer Chandraharan
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viii
viii Contents
17 Use of CTG with Induction and 26 Operative Interventions for Fetal

Augmentation of Labour 96 Compromise 151
Ana Piñas Carrillo and Edwin Mary Catherine Tolcher and Kyle
Chandraharan D. Traynor
18 Recognition of Chronic 27 Nonhypoxic Causes of CTG
Hypoxia and the Preterminal Changes 155
Cardiotocograph 101 Dovilé Kalvinskaité and Edwin
Austin Ugwumadu Chandraharan
19 Unusual Fetal Heart Rate 28 Neonatal Implications of
Patterns: Sinusoidal and Saltatory Intrapartum Fetal Hypoxia 162
Patterns 109 Justin Richards
Madhusree Ghosh and Edwin
29 Role of the Anaesthetist in the
Chandraharan
Management of Fetal Compromise
20 Intrauterine Resuscitation 114 during Labour 167
Abigail Spring and Edwin Anuji Amarasekara and
Chandraharan Anthony Addei
21 Management of Prolonged 30 Medico-legal Issues with CTG 171
Decelerations and Bradycardia 118 K. Muhunthan and Sabaratnam
Rosemary Townsend and Edwin Arulkumaran
Chandraharan
31 Ensuring Competency in
22 ST-Analyser (STAN): Principles and Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring: The
Physiology 130 Role of GIMS 180
Ana Piñas Carrillo and Edwin Virginia Lowe and Edwin
23 ST-Analyser: Case Examples and 32 Physiology-Based CTG
Pitfalls 135 Training: Does It Really
Ana Piñas Carrillo and Edwin Matter? 185
Chandraharan Sara Ledger and Edwin Chandraharan
24 Role of a Computerized CTG 142
Sabrina Kuah and Geoff Matthews
Appendix: Rational Use of FIGO Guidelines
25 Peripheral Tests of Fetal in Clinical Practice 193
Well-being 147 Answers to Exercises 197
Charis Mills and Edwin Chandraharan Index 225
ix
Contributors
Anthony Addei, MB ChB, FRCA Francesco D’Antonio, MD

Consultant Anaesthetist, St George’ s Clinical Fellow, Fetal Medicine Unit, St
University Hospitals NHS Foundation George’s Hospital, London, UK
Trust, UK
Madhusree Ghosh, MBBS, DNB (Obs &
Anuji Amarasekara, MBBS, FRCA Gyn)
Consultant Anaesthetist at the Clinical Fellow in Obstetrics and
University Hospital of Coventry and Gynaecology, St George’s University
Warwickshire, UK Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
London, UK
Abigail Archer, BSc (Hons), RM
Specialist Midwife in Fetal Monitoring, Anna Gracia-Perez-Bonfils, MD
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Consultant Obstetrician
Foundation Trust, London, UK Sant Joan de Déu Hospital. BcnNatal.
Barcelona, Spain
Sir Sabaratnam Arulkumaran
PhD DSc FRCS FRCOG Dovilé Kalvinskaité, MD
Professor Emeritus of Obstetrics & Clinical Fellow (Obs & Gyn), St George’s
Gynaecology University Hospitals NHS Foundation
St George’s University of London, UK Trust, London, UK
Amar Bhide, MD, FRCOG Sophie Eleanor Kay, MBBS, BSc (Hons)
Consultant, Fetal Medicine Unit, St Clinical Fellow, Women’s Directorate,
George’s University Hospitals NHS St George’s University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust, London, UK Foundation Trust, London, UK
Ana Piñas Carrillo, LMS, CCT Obs & Gyn Sabrina Kuah, MBBS, FRANZCOG,
(Spain), Dip FM (UK) Diploma in Clinical Hypnosis
Consultant Obstetrician at St George’s Director of Delivery Suite and Senior
University Hospitals NHS Foundation Consultant, Women’s and Children’s
Trust, London, UK Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia
Edwin Chandraharan, MBBS, MS Sara Ledger, BSc (Hons)
(Obs & Gyn), DFSRH, DCRM, FSLCOG, Research and Development Manager,
FRCOG Baby Lifeline Training Ltd., Balsall
Lead Consultant, Labour Ward, St Common, UK
George’s University Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust, and Honorary Senior Virginia Lowe, BA (Hons), BSc
Lecturer, St George’s, University of (Hons), RM
London, UK. Visiting Professor, Tianjin Specialist Midwife in Fetal Monitoring,
Hospital for Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George’s University Hospitals NHS
Tianjin Province, China Foundation Trust, London, UK
ix
x
x Contributors
Geoff Matthews, BM, BS, FRCOG, Justin Richards, MBBS, MD, MRCP
FRANZCOG, RCR/RCOG, Diploma in Consultant Neonatologist, St George’s
Obstetric Ultrasound, Diploma in University Hospitals NHS Foundation
Clinical Hypnosis Trust, London, UK
Director of Obstetrics and Senior
Consultant, Women’s and Children’s Abigail Spring, MBChB (Hons)
Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia Clinical Fellow in Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, St George’s University
Charis Mills, MBBS, MSc Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
Clinical Fellow in Obstetrics and London, UK
Gynaecology, Women’s Directorate,
St George’s University Hospitals NHS Harriet Stevenson, MBBS, iBsc
Foundation Trust, London, UK Clinical Fellow, St George’s University
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
Jessica Moore, MBBS, MRCOG London, UK
Consultant Obstetrician and Lead for
Obstetric Risk Management, St George’s Mary Catherine Tolcher, MD
University Hospitals NHS Foundation Department of Obstetrics and
Trust, London, UK Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester,
MN, USA
Sadia Muhammad, MBBS, MRCOG
Senior Lecturer and Head of Department Rosemary Townsend, MBChB, MRCOG
of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Specialist Trainee, St George’s University
MedicineUniversity of JaffnaSri Lanka Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
London, UK
K. Muhunthan, MBBS, MS (Obs & Gyn),
MRCOG Kyle D. Traynor, MD
Senior Lecturer, Consultant and Department of Obstetrics and
Head Department of Obstetrics Gynecology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester,
and Gynaecology, MN, USA
Faculty of Medicine, Austin Ugwumadu, PhD, FRCOG
University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka Consultant and Senior Lecturer in
Leonie Penna, FRCOG Obstetrics and Gynaecology, St George’s
University of London, UK
Consultant, Obstetrician Department of
Women’s Health, King’s College Hospital, Ayona Wijemanne, BMedSci, BMBS,
London, UK MRCOG, DCRM
Nirmala Chandrasekaran, MRCOG Clinical Fellow in Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, St George’s University
Senior Registrar at the Department of
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust,
Women’s Health, King’s College Hospital,
London, UK
London, UK
xi
Preface
Why do we need a textbook on physiology-based cardiotocograph (CTG) interpretation? In

order to answer this question, one needs to look at the recent ‘10 Years of Maternity Claims’
report published by the NHS Litigation Authority (NHSLA) in 2013, which highlighted the
fact that even 40 years after CTG was introduced into clinical practice, CTG misinterpret-
ation continues to contribute to significant number of clinical negligence claims involving
cerebral palsy and perinatal deaths.
Very unfortunately, CTG technology was introduced into clinical practice in 1968 with-
out any randomized controlled trials to confirm its effectiveness in reducing perinatal mor-
bidity and mortality. Lack of deep understanding of the features observed on the CTG trace
led to early CTG ‘experts’ reacting to various ‘concerning’ features without understanding
the basic pathophysiological mechanisms behind these patterns. Fetal stress response was
mistaken as fetal ‘distress’, leading to unnecessary intrapartum interventions such as opera-
tive vaginal deliveries and emergency caesarean sections. Conversely, the lack of deeper
understanding of CTG trace features (failure to recognize features suggestive of fetal decom-
pensation) resulted in adverse perinatal outcomes, including hypoxic ischaemic encepha-
lopathy and its long-term sequelae such as cerebral palsy.
One of the main reasons for substandard care associated with CTG interpretation was
because CTG was introduced into clinical practice in 1960s without robust guidelines as
to how to use this technology. The first clinical guidelines were published by the American
College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (ACOG) in 1979, although there were a few
‘expert opinions’ in existence between 1968 and 1979. In early 1980s, there were more
than 20 CTG classification systems employed around the world, leading to significant con-
fusion among obstetricians and midwives about how to use this technology effectively.
This compelled the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) to
produce the first unified clinical guidelines on CTG interpretation in 1987 (19 years after
the introduction of CTG into clinical practice!). In the United Kingdom, the first ever
guidelines on CTG interpretation were published by the Royal College of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists (RCOG) only in 2001, after the fourth ‘Confidential Enquiries into
Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy’ (CESDI) report in 1997. This report highlighted that the
lack of knowledge with CTG interpretation was a key contributory factor in intrapartum-
related stillbirths.
Unfortunately, all these guidelines that have been published so far were highly depend-
ent on ‘pattern recognition’ to classify CTG traces. They have relied on morphological iden-
tification of ongoing decelerations, which were classified initially as ‘Type 1’ and ‘Type 2’ and
subsequently as ‘early, variable and late’ decelerations, with the variable decelerations further
classified into typical (uncomplicated) and atypical (complicated) decelerations.
Not only do these decelerations not occur in isolation during labour, they are subjected
to significant inter-and intra-observer variability, leading to misclassification. Studies have
shown that even experts providing medico-legal evidence to courts who rely on ‘pattern
recognition’ for CTG interpretation change their opinions when the neonatal outcome is
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xii
xii Preface
known and completely revise their CTG classification based on the neonatal outcomes. This
illustrates the confusion with regard to CTG interpretation even among experts.
The CESDI report in the United Kingdom highlighted the fact that out of 873
intrapartum-related deaths, 50% had ‘grade 3’ substandard care. This means that 50%
of intrapartum deaths were potentially avoidable. Factors that contributed to substand-
ard care included lack of knowledge to interpret CTG traces, failure to incorporate clini-
cal picture (meconium, temperature, intrapartum bleeding), delay in interventions and
communication and common sense issues. The Chief Medical Officer’s report in 2006 on
‘Intrapartum-Related Deaths: 500 Missed Opportunities’ continued to highlight substand-
ard care, including CTG misinterpretation, as a contributory factor. NHSLA published
the ‘100 Stillbirth Claims’ report in 2009, which indicated that out of 100 successful still-
birth claims, 34% were directly due to CTG misinterpretation involving both obstetricians
and midwives. The most recent NHSLA’s ‘10 Years of Maternity Claims’ report has also
highlighted CTG misinterpretation as a cornerstone of medical malpractice in maternity
services leading to stillbirths, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) and subsequent
long-term sequelae such as cerebral palsy.
CTG misinterpretation not only has significant financial implications for any healthcare
system because a single case of cerebral palsy may cost approximately £10 million; it also has
an immeasurable adverse impact on families. A child with cerebral palsy requires round-
the-clock intensive care, in addition to regular occupational therapy, speech and language
therapy, almost on a weekly basis. Therefore, parents often have to lose their jobs to become
full-time caregiverrs to look after their children. In addition, intrapartum stillbirth or an
early neonatal death can also cause enormous emotional trauma, which may even affect
subsequent pregnancies. Moreover, one should not forget the impact of CTG misinterpreta-
tion leading to poor outcomes on staff (midwives, obstetricians, anaesthetists and neona-
tologists). Some leave their chosen profession due to this negative psychological impact.
Therefore, CTG misinterpretation does not only cause medico-legal implications leading
to financial loss but also has a significant impact on individuals, families and, largely, the
society.
Therefore, in my opinion, time has come for a paradigm shift in CTG interpretation from
that based on traditional ‘pattern recognition’, which has led to significant inter-and intra-
observer variation and resultant increase in operative interventions during labour without
any significant reductions in the rates of cerebral palsy or perinatal deaths, to one based
on fetal physiology. The latter is aimed at understanding the basic pathophysiology behind
features observed on the CTG trace so as to institute a timely and appropriate action when
there is evidence of fetal decompensation. Conversely, it would help to avoid an unnecessary
intrapartum operative intervention when there is evidence of fetal compensation to ongo-
ing mechanical or hypoxic stress on the CTG trace. Based on animal and human studies, it
is very clear that a fetus when exposed to an evolving intrapartum hypoxia would display
certain definitive and predictable features on the CTG trace, which reflect attempts at physi-
ological compensation, similar to adults. Although the degree of response may vary depend-
ing on the intensity and duration of the hypoxic insult as well as the individual reserve of the
given fetus, the fetal compensatory response to ongoing intrapartum hypoxia, which leads
ultimately to decompensation, is fairly predictable.
It is important to realize that fetuses are not exposed to atmospheric oxygen and,
therefore, are unable to increase the oxygenation of their myocardium by increasing the
rate and depth of respiration. Therefore, in order to maintain a positive energy balance
xiii
Preface xiii
within the myocardium, a fetus needs to decrease its heart rate so as to decrease the
workload of the myocardium in order to conserve energy. Therefore, one should not
panic when observing decelerations on the CTG trace and should not merely classify
them based on morphology into early, typical variable, atypical variable and late decel-
erations. Midwives and obstetricians caring for babies in labour need to consider decel-
erations as baro-and/or chemoreceptor responses to ongoing hypoxic or mechanical
stresses. They should then attempt to determine the response of the fetus to ongoing
hypoxic or mechanical stress by observing the features on the CTG trace in between the
decelerations (i.e. stability of the baseline heart rate and normal variability) so as to inter-
vene when a fetus shows evidence of decompensation. An intervention does not always
indicate an immediate delivery using a vacuum or forceps or an emergency caesarean
section. In contrast, the intervention should be always aimed at improving intrauterine
environment wherever possible, even if delivery subsequently becomes necessary. Except
in cases of acute intrapartum accidents (abruption, cord prolapse, scar rupture), when an
immediate delivery is warranted, a fetus would display a definitive and predictable com-
pensatory response to ongoing evolving hypoxic stress. Therefore, recognition of fetal
compensation from decompensation is essential to manage labour.
The introductory chapters deal with normal fetal physiology and placentation as well as
the technical aspects of the CTG machine. This is followed by use of CTG in various clinical
situations and the pearls and pitfalls associated with CTG interpretation. Every attempt has
been made to explain the fetal pathophysiological changes behind various features observed
on the CTG trace and, where applicable, a ‘CTG Exercise’ is included after each chapter to
test reader’s knowledge. CTG changes in nonhypoxic brain injury aims to illustrate some of
the rare conditions that one may encounter in clinical practice. Considering the fact that safe
intrapartum care involves a joint, multidisciplinary effort, midwives, obstetricians, anaes-
thetists and neonatologists have contributed chapters on relevant areas, including intermit-
tent auscultation, role of anaesthetists during an event of CTG changes, as well as neonatal
resuscitation.
I would like to thank all the contributors for their hard work and sacrifice. They have
ensured that chapters are based on current scientific evidence as well as on fetal patho-
physiology. I am deeply indebted to my mentor Professor Sir Arulkumaran who inspired
me to develop an interest in intrapartum fetal monitoring. Special thanks to my col-
leagues Mr Ugwumadu, Ms Leonie Penna, Ms Virginia Whelehan and Ms Abigail Archer,
who are co-members of the faculty of St George’s intrapartum fetal monitoring courses.
I would like to thank Ms Sara Ledger from Baby Lifeline, a charity which conducts CTG
masterclasses for midwives and obstetricians in several regions in the United Kingdom
for her contribution on delegate feedback on physiology-based CTG interpretation. My
special appreciation goes to all my co-authors, who were or are my trainees and have
been interpreting CTG traces based on fetal physiology and are extremely motivated to
improve intrapartum outcomes. They are our leaders of tomorrow, and I have no doubt
whatsoever that they will be pivotal in changing the way the CTG has been interpreted
based on pattern recognition over the last 40 years and that they would ensure a culture
change to move towards a physiology-based CTG interpretation to improve outcomes for
women and babies.
I sincerely hope that this book will help start our journey towards a physiology-based
CTG interpretation. We owe this to women and babies who place their trust in us to care for
them during labour.
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xv
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank all the contributing authors for their generosity with their time, dis-
semination of their knowledge and expertise. As the labour ward lead, my sincere appre-
ciation goes to the multidisciplinary team at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Trust,
London, for their continued support and assistance.
I am very grateful to Mr Nick Dunton, Ms Kirsten Bot and their team at the Cambridge
University Press for their invaluable support and assistance as well as their professionalism.
I am deeply indebted to my wife Anomi and my children Ashane and Avindri not only for
their unconditional support, always, but also for their patience, tolerance and understanding.
Last but not least, my thanks to all the babies who have taught me the importance of
incorporating fetal physiology during labour while interpreting CTG traces over the last
20 years.
xv
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xvii
Glossary
Augmentation of labour: The process of artificially stimulating the uterus to increase the
frequency, duration and intensity of uterine contractions after the onset of spontaneous
labour. It is indicated when labour is progressing slowly or not progressing at all so as to
avoid the complications secondary to prolonged labour.
Bradycardia: A baseline fetal heart rate <110 bpm for at least 10 minutes.
Cardiotocography – CTG: A graphic record of the fetal heart rate and uterine contrac-
tions through an ultrasound device placed on the maternal abdomen or through a fetal
scalp electrode. The ‘toco’, registers the uterine contractions through a second transducer
placed on the uterine fundus.
Induction of labour –IOL: The process of artificially initiating the onset of labour so as to
optimize maternal and/or fetal outcome by avoiding continuation of pregnancy.
Intermittent auscultation: A method of intrapartum surveillance where the fetal heart rate
is heard for short periods of time at prespecified intervals.
Intrapartum bleeding: Any bleeding from the genital tract that is heavier than the usually
expected blood-stained mucus discharge during labour.
Intrapartum reoxygenation ratio –IRR: The ratio between cumulative uterine relaxation
and uterine contraction times over 30 minutes indicates the total duration of time avail-
able for reoxygenation of placental venous sinuses, immediately after a uterine contrac-
tion during a 30-minute period. IRR >1 (i.e. relaxation time is more than the time spent
during a contraction) is unlikely to lead to fetal hypoxia and acidosis.
Intrauterine resuscitation: Any intervention undertaken during labour with the aim/inten-
tion to improve oxygen delivery to the fetus by improving the intrauterine environment.
Meconium: Fetal bowel content that is passed into the amniotic fluid in about 10 percent of
term labours. The term meconium-stained amniotic fluid is used to describe this situation.
The terms “light” meconium staining and “heavy” meconium staining are recommended
with the former representing a situation that is most likely physiological with a large
volume of amniotic fluid indicating a lower risk of placental insufficiency or prolonged
ruptured membranes, and the latter indicating a situation in which the fetus may have oli-
gohydramnios due to placental insufficiency, prolonged prelabour rupture of membranes
or a long labour and is thus more likely to be associated with hypoxia or infection.
MHR: Maternal heart rate. Erroneous recording of MHR on cardiotocography may be mis-
interpreted as the fetal heart rate (FHR)
Operative vaginal delivery (with vacuum or forceps)/cesarean delivery: These are options
for management of “pathological” (or a ‘category 3’) cardiotocography observed during
second stage of labour.
xvii
newgenprepdf
xviii
xviii Glossary
Peripheral tests of fetal well-being: These are aimed at testing a sample of blood taken from
fetal scalp to determine fetal acidosis (fetal scalp pH or scalp lactate) or to assess oxygena-
tion saturation from fetal skin (fetal pulse oximetry).
Preterm: All fetuses between 24 weeks (considered as the limit of viability) and 37 com-
pleted weeks (the 259th day).
Prolonged deceleration: Fall from baseline fetal heart rate of >15 beats per minute lasting
longer than 3 minutes.
Sinusoidal pattern: A regular oscillation of baseline variability in a smooth undulating pat-
tern lasting at least 10 minutes with a frequency of 3–5 cycles per minute and an ampli-
tude of 5 to 15 bpm above and below the baseline.
STAN: A system of intrapartum monitoring that records changes in fetal ECG during labour.
It analyses the ‘ST segment’ and the ‘T-wave’ of the fetal ECG complex.
Uterine scar: Any interruption in the integrity of the myometrium and its subsequent
replacement by scar tissue before pregnancy. Although a previous caesarean section is the
most common cause of uterine scarring, a previous myomectomy, uterine perforation/
rupture, resection of cornual ectopic pregnancy and any other procedure that involves an
interruption of the myometrium with subsequent replacement by scar tissue may weaken
the uterine wall, predisposing to uterine scar dehiscence or rupture.
Zig-zag (saltatory) autonomic instability pattern: Fetal heart amplitude changes of >25
bpm with an oscillatory frequency of >6 per minute for a minimum duration of 1 minute.
1
‘An Eye Opener’: Perils of CTG

Chapter
1 Misinterpretation
Lessons from Confidential Enquiries and
Medico-legal Cases
Edwin Chandraharan
Introduction
Since its introduction into clinical practice in late 1960s, cardiotocograph (CTG) interpre-
tation was predominantly based on ‘pattern recognition’ by determining various features
observed on the CTG trace (e.g. baseline fetal heart rate [FHR], baseline variability, presence
of accelerations and decelerations). One of the main reasons for this approach was due to the
fact that the CTG was first introduced to clinical practice without any robust randomized
controlled clinical trials to confirm its efficacy. Very unfortunately, robust guidelines on how
to use this new technology were not published at the time of introduction of CTG into
clinical practice. This unfortunate situation resulted in obstetricians in late 1960s and early
1970s reacting to various patterns observed on the CTG trace without understanding the
pathophysiological mechanisms behind these observed features. The first recognized guide-
lines on CTG interpretation were published by the American College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists (ACOG) in 1979, and subsequent international guidelines on CTG interpre-
tation were published by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
in 1987 as there were more than 20 international guidelines at this time on how to interpret
the CTG trace. Lack of understanding of pathophysiology of intrapartum hypoxia as well
as randomized controlled trials on CTG resulted in obstetricians merely exerting a panic
reaction to observed decelerations, which were initially termed ‘type 1’ and ‘type 2’ decelera-
tions, and this resulted in increased operative interventions (emergency caesarean sections,
operative vaginal births) without any significant reduction in cerebral palsy and perinatal
deaths.
Effects of CTG Misinterpretation

In 1971, Beard et al. reported that even when significant abnormalities (e.g. late decelera-
tions and complicated baseline bradycardia) were noted on the CTG trace, more than 60
per cent of fetuses had a normal umbilical cord pH (>7.25). Therefore, CTG interpret-
ation purely based on ‘pattern recognition’ resulted in unnecessary caesarean sections. As
the false-positive rate of CTG was 60 per cent, out of 100 caesarean sections performed,
60 were potentially unnecessary. However, due to a paucity of knowledge with regard to
Handbook of CTG Interpretation: From Patterns to Physiology, ed. Edwin Chandraharan. Published by

Cambridge University Press. © Cambridge University Press 2017.
1
2
2 Chapter 1: Perils of CTG Misinterpretation
fetal acid–base balance during labour in the late 1960s and 1970s, it was thought, based
on personal opinions of a few senior obstetricians, that if the fetal pH was 7.25 or less,
‘it is considered possible that the fetus was asphyxiated’. Subsequent large observational
studies have refuted this erroneous assumption, and it is now well known that the cord
arterial pH of less than 7.0 (and not 7.25) is associated with poor perinatal outcomes.
Therefore, if a cut-off of 7.0 was used instead of 7.25 by Beard et al. in 1971, it was very
likely that the false-positive rate of CTG would have been over 90 per cent. This implies
that, if pattern recognition is used for CTG interpretation without understanding the
fetal physiology, 90 out of 100 emergency caesarean sections performed for suspected
fetal compromise would be entirely avoidable.
CTG misinterpretation has an adverse impact on the fetuses, their families as well as the
society. In 1997, the fourth ‘Confidential Enquiries into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy’
(CESDI) reported that more than 50 per cent of intrapartum-related stillbirths were due
to ‘grade 3’ substandard care, and, therefore, approximately 400 out of 873 stillbirths were
potentially avoidable by an alternative management. Lack of knowledge in the interpretation
of CTG traces, failure to incorporate the entire clinical picture (meconium, maternal tem-
perature, chorioamnionitis, etc.), delay in intervention even after recognizing an abnormal-
ity on the CTG, as well as communication and common sense issues were the key identified
areas in cases with substandard care.
The Chief Medical Officer’s report in the United Kingdom in 2006 titled ‘Intrapartum-
Related Deaths: 500 Missed Opportunities’ highlighted similar issues relating to substandard
care even 10 years after the CESDI report in 1997. This was followed by the National Health
Service Litigation Authority’s (NHSLA) report on ‘100 Stillbirth Claims’ in 2009, which
highlighted the fact that 34 per cent of stillbirth claims involved CTG misinterpretation.
In addition to poor perinatal outcomes and long-term neurological sequelae, CTG misin-
terpretation is also associated with significant medico-legal costs. Vincent and Ennis reported
issues relating to poor record-keeping and storage of CTG traces as contributory factors.
The more recent NHSLA’s ‘10 Years of Maternity Claims’ report highlighted the medico-
legal implications of CTG misinterpretation, which contributed not only to claims arising
from cerebral palsy and stillbirths but also to complications arising out of emergency caesar-
ean sections. Failure to recognize an abnormal CTG, failure to incorporate clinical picture,
failure in communication and injudicious use of oxytocin infusion were highlighted as key
contributory factors to medico-legal claims. The overall cost of medico-legal claims was over
three billion pounds.
The issues relating to CTG misinterpretation are not unique to the United Kingdom.
Recent publications from Norway have suggested that substandard care is common in birth
asphyxia cases, and human error is the most common contributory factor. Similar publica-
tions from Sweden have highlighted that injudicious use of oxytocin in labour was associ-
ated with approximately 70 per cent of all medico-legal claims.
The author’s own medico-legal practice, analysis of the CTG trace as well as management
of labour suggested that approximately 70 per cent of all cases of cerebral palsy and perinatal
mortality were potentially avoidable by an alternative management. In addition, poor CTG
interpretation may lead to an unnecessary intrapartum operative intervention such as fetal
scalp blood sampling (FBS), operative vaginal delivery as well as an emergency caesarean
section, all of which are associated with potentially serious maternal and fetal complications.
In June 2016, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published ‘Each
Baby Counts: key messages from 2015’. There were 921 reported cases in 2015 comprising of
3
Chapter 1: Perils of CTG Misinterpretation 3
119 intrapartum deaths, 147 early neonatal deaths and 655 babies with severe brain injury
in the UK.
CTG Interpretation: What Is the Problem?

One of the main drawbacks of CTG is that it was introduced into clinical practice without
any robust randomized controlled trials. Due to the lack of knowledge of fetal physiology
in the 1960s when the CTG technology was developing, obstetricians who worked with the
technology very unfortunately reacted to various patterns that were observed on the CTG
trace since no proper guidelines as to how to use the technology were made available to
the practitioners! Although several attempts were made by obstetricians working with the
technology to produce an acceptable methodology of CTG classification, the first robust
guidelines were only produced in 1979 by ACOG. This was followed by the production of
CTG guidelines by FIGO in 1987 to have a consensus in view of several different guide-
lines in use around the world, each adopting different features and classification systems
at that time.
The initial panic attacks caused by the ‘decelerations’ observed on the CTG trace
resulted in an exponential increase in operative vaginal births as well as emergency cae-
sarean sections without any significant reductions in cerebral palsy or perinatal deaths.
Obstetricians in 1960s and early 1970s were indeed very surprised to observe babies being
born in a very good condition with vigorous crying when obstetricians had thought that
they were experiencing ‘asphyxia’ based on the observed decelerations on the CTG trace.
Professor Richard Beard’s study in 1971 caused further confusion among obstetricians
when he demonstrated that even when severe abnormalities were noted on the CTG trace,
approximately 60 per cent of neonates were born with a normal acid–base balance (arte-
rial umbilical cord pH >7.25).
This led to some obstetricians introducing a test called FBS, which was developed by
Erich Saling in Germany in 1962 as an alternative to a Pinard’s stethoscope. FBS was never
validated as an additional or adjunctive test to the CTG prior to its introduction into clinical
practice. It was merely introduced as a ‘knee-jerk reaction’ in response to Beard’s publication
to reduce the false-positive rate of CTG so as to avoid unnecessary caesarean sections.
Such decelerations that were reflex responses of a fetus to a hypoxic or mechanical stress
in labour in order to protect the myocardium as well as changes secondary to increased
systemic blood pressure during umbilical cord compression were thought to be ‘pathologi-
cal’. This erroneous assumption without a deeper understanding of fetal physiology resulted
in such classifications as ‘type 1’ and ‘type 2’ decelerations, leading to further panic attacks
among obstetricians and an increase in unnecessary intrapartum operative interventions.
Conversely, a failure to appreciate the significance of abnormalities observed on the CTG
trace resulted in intrapartum stillbirths, hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) and its
long-term sequelae such as cerebral palsy and learning difficulties, as well as early neonatal
deaths.
The vast majority of current guidelines on CTG interpretation are purely based on ‘pat-
tern recognition’, and some of these guidelines force obstetricians to perform an FBS for
a ‘pathological’ CTG despite current evidence from the Cochrane Database of Systematic
Reviews confirming that FBS, unlike what was believed by some senior obstetricians in the
past, neither reduces operative interventions nor improves long-term perinatal outcomes.
In contrast, FBS may be associated with potentially serious fetal complications (including
4
4 Chapter 1: Perils of CTG Misinterpretation
severe haemorrhage, sepsis and leakage of cerebrospinal fluid) and may in fact delay delivery
by up to 18 minutes.
In addition, several publications have highlighted that the interpretation of CTG is
fraught with both inter-and intra-observer variations. Therefore, merely classifying CTG
traces based on pattern recognition would lead not only to erroneous interpretations but
also to unnecessary intrapartum operative interventions as well as delays in intervention.
Therefore, there is an urgent need to go back to basic fetal physiology to understand
the pathophysiology behind the features observed on the CTG trace so as to treat the fetus
rather than merely classifying the CTG trace into normal, suspicious or pathological. There
is an urgent need, first, to appreciate that intrapartum fetal monitoring is all about ensuring
that the fetus is not exposed to any significant hypoxic stress, and, second, to differentiate
between a fetus that is able to and one that is unable to mount a successful compensatory
response to ongoing stress or has exhausted all the means of compensation and hence has
begun the process of decompensation. Therefore, features observed on the CTG traces should
be used to understand fetal pathophysiology in order to avoid inappropriate interventions.
Midwives and obstetricians caring for women must avoid unnecessary operative inter-
ventions during labour while ensuring optimum perinatal outcome by developing a deeper
understanding of fetal physiology.
Further Reading 6. Chandraharan E, Lowe V, Penna L,

Ugwumadu A, Arulkumaran S. Does
1. Beard RW, Filshie GM, Knight CA, Roberts ‘process based’ training in fetal monitoring
GM. The significance of the changes in the improve knowledge of Cardiotocograph
continuous fetal heart rate in the first stage (CTG) among midwives and obstetricians?
of labour. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw. In: Book of Abstracts. Ninth RCOG
1971; 78: 865–881. International Scientific Meeting, Athens,
2. Chauhan SP, Klauser CK, Woodring TC, 2011. www.rcog.org.uk/events/rcog-
Sanderson M, Magann EF, Morrison JC. congresses/athens-2011
Intrapartum nonreassuring fetal heart 7. Ayres-de-Campos D, Arteiro D, Costa-
rate tracing and prediction of adverse Santos C, Bernardes J. Knowledge
outcomes: interobserver variability. Am J of adverse neonatal outcome alters
ObstetGynecol. 2008; 199: 623.e1–623.e5. clinicians’ interpretation of the
3. NHSLA. Study of stillbirth claims. 2009. intrapartum cardiotocograph. BJOG. 2011;
www.nhsla.com/safety/Documents/ 118(8): 978–984.
NHS%20Litigation%20Authority%20 8. Chandraharan E. Fetal scalp blood
Study%20of%20Stillbirth%20Claims.pdf sampling during labour: is it a useful
4. NHSLA. Ten years of maternity claims: An diagnostic test or a historical test that
analysis of NHS litigation authority data. no longer has a place in modern clinical
2012. www.nhsla.com/safety/Documents/ obstetrics? BJOG. 2014; 121(9):
Ten%20Years%20of%20Maternity%20 1056–1060.
Claims%20-%20An%20Analysis%20 9. Department of Health, UK. On the state
of%20the%20NHS%20LA%20Data%20- of public health: annual report of the
%20October%202012.pdf Chief Medical Officer 2006. Chapter 6.
5. Chandraharan E. Fetal Intrapartum-Related Deaths: 500
compromise: diagnosis and management. Missed Opportunities. webarchive.
In: Obstetric and Intrapartum nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/
Emergencies: A Practical Guide to http://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_
Management. Cambridge University dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/@dh/@en/
Press, 2012. documents/digitalasset/dh_076853.pdf
5
Chapter 1: Perils of CTG Misinterpretation 5
10. CESDI. Fourth Annual delivery-related malpractice in Sweden

Report: Concentrating on Intrapartum 1990–2005. BJOG. 2008; 115(3): 316–323.
Deaths 1994-95. London. Maternal 13. Andreasen S, Backe B, Øian P. Claims
and Child Health Research Consortium, for compensation after alleged birth
1997. asphyxia: a nationwide study covering
11. Ennis M, Vincent CA. Obstetric 15 years. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2014;
accidents: a review of 64 cases. BMJ. 1990; 93(2): 152–158.
300(6736): 1365–1367. 14. Royal College of Obstetricans and
12. Berglund S, Grunewald C, Pettersson Gynaecologists. Each baby Counts: key
H, Cnattingius S. Severe asphyxia due to messages from 2015. London: RCOG2016.
6
Fetal Oxygenation
Chapter
2 Anna Gracia-Perez-Bonfils and Edwin Chandraharan
Introduction
Fetuses, unlike adults, are not exposed to atmospheric oxygen. When confronted with
hypoxia, adults can increase their rate and depth of respiration to enhance the intake of
oxygen so as to maintain positive energy balance and protect their myocardium.
In contrast, a fetus when exposed to hypoxia cannot increase its oxygen supply, and
therefore, it will decrease its heart rate in order to reduce the myocardial workload to main-
tain a positive energy balance. This reflex response to decrease the heart rate to protect the
myocardium against hypoxic or mechanical stress is heard as a deceleration during fetal
heart rate (FHR) monitoring.
Placentation: Impact on Fetal Oxygenation

From 12 days of life until full-term, the embryo and the fetus obtain their nutrition and
oxygenation from maternal circulation to survive and grow. Therefore, it is mandatory for
the well-being of an embryo and a fetus to have optimum utero-placental circulation as well
as adequate placental reserve. This process of establishing an effective utero-placental cir-
culation is complex and requires a synergy between the trophoblasts of the embryo and the
endometrium (decidua and spiral arterioles) of the mother.
Normal Placentation
Fertilization occurs in the fallopian tube, and the fertilized ovum enters the uterine cavity
around the third day as a morula (12–16 blastomeres). The inner cells of the morula dif-
ferentiate into an inner cell mass that will form the tissues of the embryo. In contrast, the
surrounding cells differentiate into the outer cell mass that will give rise to the trophoblast,
which will subsequently form the placenta.
The accumulation of fluid occurs rapidly forming a fluid-filled cavity within the morula
(blastocele) and thereby creating the blastocyst. During this time, the early embryo receives
its nutrition and eliminates waste products by a simple process of diffusion through the zona
pellucida. About the sixth day, the cells from the trophoblast begin to penetrate between the
endometrial cells of the uterus.
The process of implantation is usually completed by the tenth or eleventh postovulatory day.
By that time, the original trophoblast surrounding the embryo has undergone differentiation

6
7
Chapter 2: Fetal Oxygenation 7
Trophoblastic lacunae Maternal sinusoids
Enlarged blood
vessels
Amniotic cavity
Endoderm cells
Cytotrophoblast
Syncytiotrophoblast
Mesoderm
Exocoelomic cavity
(primitive yolk sac)
Figure 2.1 Formation of primitive utero-placental circulation by erosion of maternal blood vessels by
syncytiotrophoblast.
into two layers: the inner cytotrophoblast and the outer syncytiotrophoblast, which will invade
the endometrium and subsequently form the placenta.
The growth of the embryo and the disappearance of the zona pellucida induce a need
for a new and more efficient method of exchange of nutrients. This need is fulfilled by the
utero-placental circulation that allows a close contact to exchange gases and metabolites by
diffusion between maternal and fetal blood. The formation of ‘lacunae’ within the syncytio-
trophoblast aids in the development of an efficient utero-placental circulation.
The uterus at the time of implantation is in the secretory phase, and secondary to the
rise in concentration of progesterone, the stroma cells of the endometrium accumulate gly-
cogen and get enlarged. On day 12, the syncytiotrophoblast secretes enzymes that erode the
endometrium and hormones that help to sustain ongoing pregnancy (B-hCG). Enzymatic
corrosion of uterine glands liberates their content for nourishment of the embryo, together
with the glycogen provided by the stromal cells. Maternal vessels at the implantation site
(branches of spiral arteries and endometrial veins) dilate and form maternal sinusoids.
The erosion of sinusoids by the syncytiotrophoblast results in maternal blood bathing the
lacunar network allowing the exchange of gases and nutrients (Figure 2.1). Thus, a primi-
tive utero-placental circulation begins by the end of the second week with the anastomosis
between trophoblastic lacunae and maternal capillaries.
These cellular changes, together with an increase in endometrial vascularization, are
known as decidual reaction. It commences at the implantation site and spreads throughout
8
8 Chapter 2: Fetal Oxygenation
Reduced size
of the villi (e.g. IUGR)
and sustained uterine
contractions
Umbilical vein
Normal
“O2 rich-blood”
branch villi
Umbilical arteries
“O2 poor-blood”
Umbilical
cord
Increased
size of the villi
as in a diabetic
pregnancy
Fetal portion Maternal

of placenta portion
(chorion) of placenta
Figure 2.2 Maternal spiral arteries and their branches as well as the intervillous space formed by the
intercommunicating lacunae within the trophoblast. The terminal branches of spiral arterioles feed oxygenated
blood while the tributaries of the endometrial veins drain deoxygenated blood and metabolic waste products.
the entire endometrium within a few days, and this newly formed layer is called the decidua.
As the trophoblast continues to invade more and more sinusoids, maternal blood begins to
flow through the trophoblastic system.
The cytotrophoblast meanwhile proliferates and forms protrusions penetrating into the
syncytiotrophoblast all around the blastocyst. These extensions are known as primary villi.
On day 16, after being invaded by the chorionic mesoderm, secondary villi are formed. This
is followed by the development of blood vessels within the chorionic mesoderm leading to
the formation of tertiary villi on day 21. Secondary and tertiary villi are often termed as cho-
rionic villi, and hypoxia or lower tissue oxygen content in the decidua is critical for normal
trophoblast invasion and formation of these villi.
The embryonic circulation is anatomically separated from the maternal circulation by
the endothelium of the villus capillaries, the connective tissue in the core of the villus, a layer
of cytotrophoblast and a layer of syncytiotrophoblast.
By the end of fourth week, tertiary stem villi surround the entire chorion and estab-
lish contact with the extraembryonic circulatory system, connecting the placenta and the
embryo (Figure 2.2). This ensures that nutrients and oxygen are supplied to the fetus and
metabolic waste products are removed when the fetal heart begins to start beating.
9
Umbilical vein Normal

“O2 rich-blood” branch villi
Umbilical arteries
“O2 poor-blood”
Umbilical
cord
Increased
size of the villi
as in a diabetic
pregnancy
Fetal portion Maternal portion

of placenta of placenta
(chorion)
Figure 2.3 Impaired placental circulation in a diabetic pregnancy secondary to hyperplacentosis and resultant
reduction in the utero-placental pool.
Impact of Placental Reserve on Fetal Growth and Well-being

If the placental reserve is low (utero-placental sinuses are smaller) during the antenatal
period, the fetus might have restricted his/her growth to supply oxygenated blood to the
vital organs. During labour, the onset of uterine contractions might lead to a rapid devel-
opment of hypoxia and acidosis due to the compression of branches of the uterine artery by
the contracting myometrial fibres. Similarly, an injudicious use of oxytocin may increase the
frequency, duration and strength of uterine contractions and thereby reduce the perfusion
of utero-placental sinuses leading to the development of hypoxia and metabolic acidosis.
Similarly in diabetic pregnancies, hyper-placentosis may reduce the amount of placental
pools available for gaseous exchange (Figure 3.3) leading to a rapid development of hypoxia
and acidosis.
Fetal Adaptation to Hypoxic Intrauterine Environment

The fetus lives in a relatively hypoxic intrauterine environment with an arterial oxygen sat-
uration of 70 per cent prior to the onset of labour. During labour, intermittent uterine con-
tractions may further reduce fetal oxygen saturation down to 30 per cent. Unlike adults, a
fetus has 18–22 g of fetal haemoglobin, which helps to increase the oxygen-carrying capacity
of fetal blood. In addition, unlike adult haemoglobin (HbA), fetal haemoglobin (HbF) has
increased affinity for oxygen. This results in the binding of oxygen molecules at higher par-
tial pressures of oxygen and the releasing of oxygen rapidly at very low oxygen tensions.
10
Fetus in utero
Fetal O2 Sat 70% during pregnancy HR 110–160 bpm
Haemoglobin 18- 30% during labour
22 g/dL
O2 carrying
capacity Fetal circulaon:
-Ductus venosus
-Foramen ovale
Affinity for O2 -Ductus arteriosus
Releases O2 in low O2
tension (hypoxia)
Buffer during
acidosis
Figure 2.4 Fetal adaptation to hypoxia.
This enables the fetus to maintain adequate oxygenation of the central organs even when it
is not exposed to external environment. Moreover, an increased level of fetal haemoglobin
acts as an effective buffering system in the presence of metabolic acidosis to help avoid fetal
neurological damage (Figure 2.4).
The fetal circulatory system consists of ductus venosus and foramen ovale, both of which
preferentially shunt oxygenated blood from the umbilical vein to the heart and the brain
(vital organs). In addition, ductus arteriosus diverts the blood from the pulmonary artery to
the descending aorta by passing nonfunctional lungs. This vascular arrangement enables the
fetus to supply the central organs with relatively well-oxygenated blood as compared to the
peripheral tissues. In order to rapidly distribute the blood to vital organs, unlike in adults,
fetal myocardium beats at a higher rate (110–160 bpm).
Abnormal Placentation
A failure of trophoblast invasion into the uterine endometrium would result in inadequate
formation of placental lacunae. This would lead to a reduction in the size of pools of oxygen-
ated blood within the uterine venous sinuses. Therefore, there may be intrauterine growth
restriction (IUGR) during the antenatal period to divert available oxygen and nutrients to
the vital organs. During labour, with the onset of uterine contractions, due to the compres-
sion of the branches of spiral arteries, there may be a rapid development of hypoxia and
acidosis. In addition, placental disorders such as infarction, villitis, vasculopathies and fail-
ure of trophoblastic invasion (e.g. preeclampsia) may lead to a reduction of placental pools
resulting in utero-placental insufficiency (Table 2.1).
Fetal Response to Hypoxic Stress

In response to hypoxic stress, the fetus attempts to safeguard the positive energy balance of
the myocardium to avoid myocardial hypoxia and acidosis. As the fetus, unlike adults, can-
not rapidly increase oxygen levels by increasing the rate and depth of respiration, it decreases
the myocardial workload by a reflex slowing of the FHR. This is termed deceleration.
11
Table 2.1 Causes of abnormal placentation
• Infarction
• Villitis
• Vasculopathies
• Failure to trophoblastic invasion (preeclampsia)
Deceleration
to reduce myocardial
workload
Loss of
accelerations
Reduction in fetal
movements to conserve
energy
Release of
Catecholamines
HR to get oxygenated Peripheral Glycogenolysis to

blood from the vasoconstriction increase energy supply
placenta Redistribute blood
Compensated response
Decompensation
Brain
Loss of baseline
variability
Heart
Progressive in HR due to
myocardial acidosis (“stepwise pattern
to death”)
Figure 2.5 Fetal response to hypoxic stress.
If this reflex response to hypoxic stress is insufficient to maintain oxygenation of the cen-
tral organs (brain, heart and adrenal glands), the fetus would conserve nonessential activ-
ity by stopping movements leading to a loss of accelerations in the cardiotocograph (CTG)
trace. If intrapartum hypoxia progresses further, a fetus would release catecholamines
12
(adrenaline and noradrenaline) to increase the heart rate, thereby increasing oxygenation
from the placental bed and also causing peripheral vasoconstriction to divert blood from
nonessential peripheral organs to central organs (Figure 2.5). In addition, catecholamines
increase breakdown of glycogen to glucose to increase energy substrate to continue main-
taining a positive energy balance within the myocardium.
This leads to a compensated response, and the fetus would continue to demonstrate a
stable baseline FHR and a reassuring baseline variability (5–25 bpm), albeit with continuing
decelerations and a rise in baseline FHR.
This is followed by the onset of decompensation in the central nervous system leading to
a loss of baseline FHR variability followed by the onset of myocardial hypoxia and acidosis
characterized by unstable baseline and a progressive reduction of the heart rate (‘stepwise
pattern to death’).
Summary
Fetus is not exposed to atmospheric oxygen during intrauterine life and, therefore, develops
cardiovascular, metabolic and haematological adaptation to ensure adequate oxygenation to
central organs. In response to hypoxic stress, the only organ the fetus attempts to safeguard
is the myocardium (‘the pump’) so as to maintain continued perfusion to other vital organs.
A reflex decrease in FHR (deceleration), conservation of energy (loss of fetal movements)
and release of catecholamines to increase placental circulation redistribute blood from per-
ipheral organs to central organs and increase the availability of energy substrate (glucose).
Failure in any of these mechanisms may lead to the onset of hypoxia and metabolic acidosis,
leading to neurological damage or death.
Further Reading 4th edition. Philadelphia: Churchill

Livingstone Elsevier; 2009. p. 51–68.
1. Sadler T W. Langman’s Medical Embryology. 4. Carlson B M. Placenta and
12th edition. Baltimore: Wolters Kluwer/ Extraembryonic Membranes. In: Human
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012. Embryology and Developmental Biology.
2. Sadler T W. Third Week of 5th edition. Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier;
Development: Trilaminar Germ Disc. 2014. p. 120–129.
In: Langman’s Medical Embryology. 12th 5. FitzGerald M J T, FitzGerald M.
edition. Baltimore: Wolters Kluwer/ Implantation. In: Human Embryology. 1st
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2012. edition. London: Baillière Tindall; 1994.
p. 59–61. p. 15–20.
3. Schoenwolf G C, Bleyl S B, Brauer P 6. Hardy K. Embryology. Chapter In: Bennett
R, Francis-West P H. Second Week: P, Williamson C. (eds). Basic Science in
Becoming Bilaminar and Fully Implanting. Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 4th edition.
In: Larsen’s Human Embryology. Churchill Livingston; 2010.
13
Physiology of Fetal Heart

Chapter
3 Rate Control and Types of

Intrapartum Hypoxia
Anna Gracia-Perez-Bonfils and Edwin Chandraharan
Based on the rapidity of evolution, intrapartum hypoxia may be acute (i.e. sudden cessa-
tion of fetal circulation), subacute (developing over 30–60 minutes) or gradually evolving
(developing over several hours). Pre-existing long-standing or chronic hypoxia may occur
in patients with preeclampsia or placental disorders, where the damaging insult takes place
in the antenatal period. However, continuation of labour may potentiate ongoing ‘chronic’
hypoxic insult. It is essential to understand the features observed on the cardiotocograph
(CTG) trace during different types of intrapartum hypoxia so as to institute timely and
appropriate intervention to improve perinatal outcomes.
Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control

The fetal heart rate (FHR), just like in adults, is controlled by both autonomic and somatic
components of the central nervous system. The former controls visceral functions and is
composed of sympathetic and parasympathetic systems, which are constantly interacting
with each other to increase and decrease the heart rate, respectively. The ‘agreement’ reached
following this interaction is indicated by the baseline FHR. In addition, the constant fluctua-
tion between sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems creates the ‘bandwidth’ of
this baseline, which is observed on the CTG trace as the baseline variability. Somatic nervous
system is responsible for voluntary control of body movements via skeletal muscles and it
accounts for the occurrence of accelerations on the CTG trace. However, accelerations may
also be seen in anaesthetized fetuses indicating that somatic nervous system activity may
also be centrally mediated.
During labour, a fetus undergoes the most stressful journey of his/her entire life and will
have to use all his/her available resources to adapt to the constantly evolving and rapidly
changing intrauterine environment. Every fetus will have his/her own unique physiological
reserve, which may be modified by a combination of both antenatal (e.g. pre-or postmatu-
rity intrauterine growth restriction) and intrapartum risk factors (e.g. infection or meco-
nium and use of oxytocin to augment labour).
Parasympathetic Nervous System
The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for activities that occur when the body
is at rest (such as listening to calm music, performing yoga). In contrast, the sympathetic
nervous system is responsible for the ‘fight or flight’ response, which is essential for survival.
The parasympathetic system will attempt to reduce the FHR in order to maintain a positive

13
14
14 Chapter 3: Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control
energy balance in the fetal heart in response to any hypoxic stress. This is because, unlike
adults, a fetus cannot instantly increase the oxygenation to its myocardium by increasing the
respiratory rate as it is immersed in a pool of amniotic fluid.
Parasympathetic activity is mediated by two kinds of receptors: baroreceptors and
chemoreceptors.
Baroreceptors
These are stretch receptors found in the carotid sinus and arch of the aorta. During labour
with the onset and progression of uterine contractions, both fetal head and umbilical cord
may undergo repeated compression.
• Increased peripheral resistance secondary to the occlusion of the umbilical artery
leads to an increase in fetal systemic blood pressure and resultant stimulation of
these baroreceptors located in the carotid sinus and aortic arch. Once stimulated, the
baroreceptors would send impulses to the cardiac inhibitory (parasympathetic) centre
in the brain stem. This in turn inhibits the atrioventricular node situated within the
heart via the vagus nerve to slow down the heart rate.
• In addition, stimulation of the baroreceptors also decreases the sympathetic stimulation
of the heart. Such ‘baroreceptor-mediated’ decelerations will be seen on the CTG
trace as variable decelerations secondary to umbilical cord compression. As these are
generally short-lasting episodes related to uterine contractions, the fetal heart returns
to the baseline quickly, and they do not expose the fetus to any hypoxic injury.
• Therefore, in the absence of other abnormalities on the CTG trace (unstable baseline
or changes in baseline variability), the presence of early (head compression leading to
stimulation of the dura mater, which is richly supplied by the parasympathetic nerves)
or typical variable decelerations should be viewed as pure ‘mechanical stresses’ during
labour. Hence, they do not require any interventions other than continued observation.
Chemoreceptors
• These are found peripherally on the aortic and carotid bodies and centrally within the
brain. Chemoreceptors are stimulated by changes in the biochemical composition of
the blood, responding to increased hydrogen ion and carbon dioxide accumulation and
low partial pressure of oxygen.
• During labour, the activation of these receptors causes stimulation of the
parasympathetic nervous system, which decreases the FHR. Nonetheless, unlike the
short-lasting decelerations mediated by baroreceptors, when chemoreceptors are
stimulated, it takes longer to recover back to the original baseline heart rate. This is
because fresh oxygenated blood needs to reach the maternal venous sinuses to remove
the stimulus to chemoreceptors.
• Due to delayed onset and recovery, they are termed ‘late decelerations’ and are often
associated with fetal metabolic acidosis.
Therefore, decelerations secondary to the stimulation of baroreceptors will be in relation to
compression of the umbilical cord and will have a sharp drop and a quick recovery. The dur-
ation between the onset and nadir of a variable deceleration is often shorter than 30 seconds
and the total duration of the entire ´typical´ variable deceleration should be <60 seconds.
15
Chapter 3: Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control 15
• On the other hand, decelerations secondary to chemoreceptor stimulation due to

metabolic acidosis have a more gradual fall from the baseline and take longer to recover
to the original baseline FHR (at least a 15–20-second lag time to reach the original
baseline). Therefore, due to their delayed recovery to the original baseline, they are
called late decelerations.
Role of Sympathetic System and the Fetal Adrenal Glands

In response to persistent and ongoing hypoxic stress, fetal adrenal glands secrete catechola-
mines (adrenaline and noradrenaline) that have sympathomimetic activity. Catecholamines
not only progressively increase the FHR, but they also cause peripheral vasoconstriction in
order to achieve effective redistribution of blood to selectively perfuse vital organs at the
expense of peripheral tissues and other nonessential organs (‘centralization’).
• Therefore, when interpreting a CTG trace, an attempt should be made to scrutinize for
slowly increasing baseline FHR over a period of time to recognize fetal catecholamine
response to a gradually evolving hypoxic stress.
• A baseline FHR of 110–160 bpm should not be considered normal during labour for
all fetuses, and the baseline heart rate of each fetus should be used as his/her own
control. For example, a fetus may increase the heart rate from 110 to 150 bpm due to
catecholamine release secondary to ongoing, gradually evolving hypoxic stress but still
be within the ‘normal’ range of 110–160 bpm.
The Somatic Nervous System

Fetal movements cause a transient increase in FHR, which is seen on the CTG trace as ‘accel-
erations’. However, some studies have shown the presence of accelerations even after induc-
ing fetal paralysis, and therefore, they are not always associated with fetal movements and
appear to reflect the integrity of the somatic nervous system.
• Therefore, the presence of accelerations suggests the integrity of the somatic
nervous system, and a ‘healthy’ fetus not only has sufficient reserve to supply to
central organs but also has sufficient glucose and oxygen to expend on nonessential
somatic activity. Hence, the presence of accelerations is a hallmark of a healthy,
nonhypoxic fetus.
• A fetus attempts to compensate for ongoing intrapartum hypoxia initially by the onset
of decelerations to protect the myocardium; the next step in the evolving hypoxic
process is to conserve energy by reducing the movements of skeletal muscles. This will
lead to the disappearance of accelerations on the CTG trace.
• In normal conditions, a fetus will have sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous
systems constantly interacting with each other, which will define the baseline and
variability in the CTG trace.
During labour, as a fetus is exposed to uterine contractions, a progressive intrapartum
hypoxia may develop, which would trigger fetal compensatory mechanisms. Fetus will
experience decelerations secondary to umbilical cord (baroreceptors) or head compression
(parasympathetic stimulation secondary to compression of dura mater of the brain).
• Decelerations resulting from hypoxic stress will progressively become deeper and wider
with continuation of labour.
16
• Moreover, a fetus will reduce its movements, and therefore, accelerations may disappear
from the CTG trace.
• If hypoxia continues to increase, a fetus will secrete catecholamines that will
progressively increase the baseline FHR to compensate for ongoing hypoxic stress by
obtaining oxygenated blood from the placenta and redistributing this blood to essential
organs at a higher baseline heart rate.
• If decompensation sets in, loss of baseline variability may be observed indicating
hypoxia to central nervous system centres followed by myocardial hypoxia and acidosis
leading to a progressive fall in baseline FHR (‘stepladder pattern to death’) culminating
in terminal fetal bradycardia.
Features of a Normal CTG
Baseline FHR
This refers to resting heart rate excluding accelerations and decelerations. It is determined
over a 5-to 10-minute period and expressed in beats per minute (bpm). A normal baseline
FHR between 110 and 160 bpm is considered normal for a term fetus and if it is >160 bpm
and persists for >10 minutes, it is called baseline tachycardia. This could be physiological in
a preterm fetus (immaturity of the parasympathetic system) or be secondary to maternal
pyrexia, dehydration, infection or rarely due to drugs such as betamimetics. Temperature
can augment the effect of hypoxia on fetal brain and may predispose to fetal neurological
injury.
In addition, a rise in baseline FHR can be seen as a fetus attempts to respond to hypoxia,
resulting in fetal adrenal glands producing catecholamines. Therefore, as well as an absolute
value, it is important to consider the trend over time; for example, although a baseline FHR
of 150 bpm may be within a normal range according to the guidelines of CTG interpreta-
tion, an increase from a baseline rate of 110 bpm from the beginning of the CTG to 150
bpm needs to be taken seriously to exclude gradually evolving hypoxia (increase in baseline
FHR is preceded by decelerations) or ongoing chorioamnionitis (usually increase in baseline
FHR without any preceding decelerations). ‘Complicated tachycardias’, which are often seen
alongside a reduction in baseline variability or decelerations, should be considered ominous.
It is vital to compare current baseline FHR with previously recorded baseline during the last
antenatal clinical visit or from a previous CTG trace to determine a rise in baseline second-
ary to a long-standing utero-placental insufficiency.
Similarly, a baseline FHR <110 bpm lasting >10 minutes is called a baseline bradycardia.
Postterm fetuses may have baseline bradycardia due to the predominance of the parasym-
pathetic nervous system with advancing gestation. Cardiac conduction defects (congeni-
tal heart blocks) can also result in baseline bradycardia. Terminal bradycardia may occur
secondary to acute hypoxic events such as umbilical cord prolapse, placental abruption or
uterine rupture.
Variability
This is a variation in the FHR above and below the baseline (i.e. the ‘bandwidth’) and reflects
the continuous interactions of sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. Normal
variability of 5–25 implies that both components of the autonomic nervous system are func-
tioning well, and therefore, fetal hypoxia is unlikely. Reduced baseline variability of <5 bpm
17
Figure 3.1 Normal CTG indicating the integrity of the autonomic nervous system (stable baseline FHR and
reassuring variability) and the integrity of the somatic nervous system (presence of accelerations). In addition, there
is no evidence of any hypoxic or mechanical stress (absence of decelerations) and presence of active and quiet
epochs (‘cycling’).
may represent a quiet sleep phase or may indicate hypoxia to the central nervous system
(together with an increase in baseline FHR and preceding decelerations). It may also be
secondary to drugs (CNS depressants such as pethidine), infection or cerebral haemorrhage.
Increased variability >25 bpm is called ‘saltatory pattern’ and needs further consideration
as it may occur in a rapidly evolving hypoxia, especially in the second stage of labour with
active maternal pushing. Therefore, an urgent action is mandatory to improve fetal oxy-
genation (stopping oxytocin infusion, stopping maternal pushing) if a saltatory pattern is
encountered in association with decelerations to avoid hypoxic-ischaemic injury. If no inter-
ventions are possible, an urgent delivery should be considered.
Accelerations
These refer to a transient increase in FHR of 15 beats or more for more than 15 seconds.
As discussed previously, accelerations appear to reflect the integrity of the somatic nervous
system as they are usually associated with fetal movements. The significance of the absence
of accelerations in the presence of a normal baseline and variability and the absence of decel-
erations has yet to be determined. The presence of accelerations, especially with cycling of
FHR, is a hallmark of fetal well-being. Figure 3.1 illustrates a normal CTG trace with a reas-
suring, stable baseline fetal heart rate, a reassuring variability, presence of accelerations and
absence of decelerations. However, the disappearance of accelerations following the onset of
decelerations is a feature of gradually evolving hypoxia.
Decelerations
These refer to transient episodes of slowing of the FHR below the baseline rate, >15 beats
and lasting more than 15 seconds. The decelerations have been traditionally classified as
early (fetal head compression), late (utero-placental insufficiency) and variable (umbilical
cord compression) in relation to uterine contractions. Nevertheless, during labour, more
than one pathophysiological process (fetal head compression, umbilical cord compression
18
or utero-placental insufficiency) may arise simultaneously, and therefore, decelerations may

have different characteristics from the three standard types described below:
Early decelerations: True early decelerations are relatively uncommon in practice. They
are a mirror image of uterine contraction, starting with the onset of contraction, reach-
ing the nadir with the peak of the contraction and returning to baseline FHR at the end of
contraction. They occur secondary to head compression often late in the first stage and in
the second stage of labour. Compression of the head causes parasympathetic stimulation
through the vagus nerve and a resultant deceleration of the FHR. It is believed that the fetus
attempts to reduce its blood pressure by slowing down its heart rate so as to compensate
for increased intracranial pressure secondary to head compassion. The presence of decel-
erations, which resemble early decelerations in early labour, should be viewed with caution
especially if they are associated with a reduced baseline FHR variability, as head compres-
sion is unlikely in early labour and may be due to atypical variable or late deceleration that
has been misclassified.
Late decelerations: Late decelerations are so termed because, in relation to uterine con-
tractions, they occur ‘late’: both the onset of decelerations as well as the subsequent recov-
ery to the baseline occurs after the beginning and after the end of a uterine contraction,
respectively. The nadir of these decelerations is seen around 20 seconds after the peak of
contraction, with the return to baseline occurring approximately 20 seconds after the end
of contraction.
• Late decelerations are usually due to utero-placental insufficiency associated with fetal
hypoxaemia and resultant hypercarbia and developing acidosis. This results in the
stimulation of chemoreceptors leading to a drop in FHR. As uterine contraction ceases,
the placental venous sinuses refill with fresh oxygenated blood leading to a gradual
removal of the stimulus for chemoreceptors. This results in the delayed recovery of the
FHR to its original baseline.
• In the presence of late decelerations and based on other features of the CTG trace and
the clinical situation, an intervention aiming to increase the utero-placental circulation
should be instituted.
• These interventions may include changing maternal position, administering
intravenous fluids, stopping or reducing oxytocin infusions and use of tocolytics in
cases of uterine hyperstimulation. If there is no improvement in fetal condition, an
additional test of fetal well-being (i.e. digital scalp stimulation or fetal ECG) may be
considered if it is intended to continue with the labour. In the presence of features
suggestive of fetal decompensation (e.g. loss of baseline FHR variability) or further
deterioration of the CTG trace despite intrauterine resuscitation, immediate delivery
should be accomplished.
Variable decelerations: These are the most common type of decelerations, and approxi-
mately 80–90 per cent of all decelerations are variable decelerations.
They are so named because they vary in shape, form and timing in relation to uterine con-
traction. They are due to umbilical cord compression. Considering the shape and duration
of decelerations, there are two types of variable decelerations, with different characteristics.
Typical or uncomplicated variable decelerations are characterized by a drop of <60 bpm,
duration of <60 seconds and presence of ‘shouldering’, which consists in a slight increase
in FHR both before and after deceleration. Typical variable decelerations are secondary
19
Table 3.1 Features of complicated (‘atypical’) variable decelerations
• Duration more than 60 seconds

• Drop of more than 60 bpm
• Loss of shouldering
• Overshoot
• Loss of variability within the deceleration
• Slow recovery
• Biphasic decelerations
to mechanical compression of the umbilical cord, and in the presence of normal baseline
and variability, they may continue for a considerable length of time before fetal hypoxia
develops.
Atypical or complicated variable decelerations have lost the ‘typical’ features such as shoul-
dering. They can drop more than 60 bpm and last longer than 60 seconds. They can present
with an ‘overshoot’ (an increase of FHR above the baseline following the recovery of decel-
eration and returning to baseline) or have loss of variability within the deceleration or may
have a biphasic pattern. (Table 3.1 shows the features of complicated variable decelerations.)
Unlike typical variable decelerations, atypical variable decelerations are not due to tran-
sient umbilical cord compression alone.
They may be due to sustained and prolonged umbilical cord compression and may sig-
nify coexisting utero-placental insufficiency. If associated with adverse changes in baseline
FHR with loss of baseline variability, it may indicate that the fetus is losing its ability to
compensate for ongoing hypoxic or mechanical stress. It is therefore essential that the CTG
trace is re-evaluated over time.
The importance of reviewing the entire CTG trace and considering the clinical scenario
rather than just a segment of CTG trace in isolation cannot be overemphasized.
Types of Intrapartum Hypoxia

Based on the rapidity of onset, intrapartum hypoxia is classified into the following four types:
Acute Hypoxia
A single prolonged deceleration with a sudden drop in baseline FHR <80 bpm, persisting
for >3 minutes (Figure 3.2). Such a sharp and long deceleration causes a rapid onset of meta-
bolic acidosis if it occurs secondary to an intrapartum accident (placental abruption, umbili-
cal cord prolapse and uterine rupture) and pH decreases at a rate of >0.01 per minute.
Recommended management includes:
1. Immediate assessment to exclude the three major ‘accidents’ during labour (cord pro-
lapse, placental abruption or caesarean scar rupture).
2. Correct iatrogenic causes such as uterine hyperstimulation secondary to an excess of
oxytocin infusion or maternal hypotension due to anaesthesia. Stopping oxytocin and
considering administration of tocolysis (such as terbutaline 250 mcg subcutaneously)
will help resolve uterine hyperstimulation, and the administration of intravenous saline
bolus will help correct maternal hypotension.
3. Change maternal position.
20
Figure 3.2 Acute hypoxia. Note the sudden fall in FHR due to an acute interruption in fetal circulation.
4. Assess the CTG trace seeking for reassuring features:

a. Normality in the CTG trace prior to deceleration.
b. Variability is maintained within prolonged deceleration.
c. Signs of recovery within the first 6 minutes of deceleration.
If these reassuring features are present, in the absence of acute intrapartum accidents,
the likelihood of recovery is up to 90 per cent within the first 6 minutes and up to
95 per cent within 9 minutes.
The ‘3-6-9-12’-minute rule –which recommends measures to correct iatrogenic causes
by 6 minutes and to transfer the woman to the operating theatre by 9 minutes if
there are no attempts of recovery, so as to commence an operative delivery within
12 minutes of the beginning of deceleration and to deliver the fetus within 15
minutes –is based on this principle.
Considering the drop of pH of 0.01 per minute, a baby subjected to acute hypoxia after
15 minutes will have a decrease in pH of 0.15, which could mean, for example, a drop in
pH from 7.20 to 7.05. In case of a fetus exposed to gradually evolving hypoxia through-
out labour, its reserve may be already compromised at the onset of prolonged deceleration.
Therefore, the resultant fetal pH will be even lower.
Subacute Hypoxia
It occurs when the fetus spends <30 seconds on stable baseline and decelerates for >90 sec-
onds (Figure 3.3). Therefore, the fetus spends more time decelerating to protect its heart
with only one-third of the time at the baseline to exchange gases and to protect its brain. The
shortage of sufficient time for oxygenation leads to the development of fetal acidosis with a
21
Figure 3.3 Subacute hypoxia: a fetus spends progressively less time at its normal baseline as compared to time
spent during declarations. Also note the compensatory ‘catecholamine surge’.
drop in fetal pH at a rate of 0.01 per 2–3 minutes. Therefore, the fetal pH may drop from 7.25
to 7.15 in 20 minutes. When subacute hypoxia is diagnosed, hyperstimulation with oxytocin
should be excluded, and in case of active maternal pushing, suggesting the mother to stop
pushing for a while may allow the fetus to recuperate.
Gradually Evolving Hypoxia

When a fetus is exposed to a gradually evolving hypoxic stress, it has sufficient time to mobi-
lize its resources to compensate (decelerations → loss of accelerations → secretion of catecho-
lamines leading to an increase in baseline heart rate (Figure 3.4) to redistribute blood to vital
organs as well as to get fresh oxygenated blood from the placenta). If this compensation fails,
then the onset of decompensation sets in, resulting in a decrease in perfusion to fetal brain.
This will be seen on the CTG trace as a loss of baseline FHR variability. If no remedial action
is taken, the myocardium will suffer a reduction in oxygenation with consequent acidosis
that will be shown in the CTG trace as instability of the FHR baseline culminating in a ‘step-
ladder pattern’ to death and terminal bradycardia.
Long-Standing (Chronic) Hypoxia

Chronic utero-placental insufficiency and antenatal insults may result in hypoxia persist-
ing for days and weeks leading to attempts of compensation (increase in baseline FHR),
chemoreceptor-mediated decelerations (‘shallow’ decelerations with late recovery) and evi-
dence of decompensation (loss of baseline variability).
These fetuses would have reduced physiological reserves to compensate for any
further hypoxic insults and, therefore, may rapidly decompensate with the onset of
22
Figure 3.4 Gradually evolving hypoxia. Note the presence of decelerations, absence of accelerations and a rise in
baseline FHR (catecholamine surge).
Figure 3.5 Long-standing hypoxia. The baseline FHR is in the upper limit of normal with a total loss of baseline
variability and ongoing shallow decelerations, which are hallmarks of chronic hypoxia. Also note the total absence
of ‘cycling’.
uterine contractions leading to a progressive decrease in FHR (myocardial decompensa-

tion). Immediate delivery is indicated if features of chronic hypoxia are noted on the CTG
trace (Figure 3.5), and if uterine contractions have commenced and immediate delivery is
not possible (i.e. operating theatre is busy), tocolytics (e.g. terbutaline) should be adminis-
tered to reduce further hypoxic stress until delivery is accomplished.
23
Figure 3.6 Preterminal CTG trace. Note the total loss of baseline variability with ongoing ‘chemoreceptor-
mediated’ late decelerations suggestive of fetal acidosis. Unlike chronic hypoxia, this fetus is unable to maintain a
higher baseline FHR to perfuse its vital organs, and due to myocardial acidosis, a ‘wavy’ baseline may be noted.
Figure 3.7
24
Figure 3.8
Figure 3.9
25
If baseline FHR is >150 bpm after 40 weeks of gestation, features of chronic hypoxia
should be excluded.
Preterminal CTG
Once the fetus has exhausted all its compensatory mechanisms, a total loss of baseline vari-
ability and shallow decelerations would be observed on the CTG trace. Due to progressive
myocardial decompensation, the baseline heart rate will progressively decrease (Figure 3.6)
and terminal bradycardia may ensue, if delivery is not accomplished in time.
Exercises
1. How would you classify decelerations in Figure 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9? Why?
Further Reading in the presence of prolonged decelerations.

Obstetr Gynecol. 2002; 100: 951–4.
1. Chandraharan E, Arulkumaran S.
Prevention of birth asphyxia: responding 3. Pinas A, Chandraharan E. Continuous
appropriately to cardiotocograph (CTG) cardiotocography during labour: Analysis,
traces. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. classification and management. Best
2007; 21(4): 609–24. Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2015;
S1521–6934(15)00100-5.
2. Williams KP, Hofmeyr GJ. Fetal heart rate
parameters predictive of neonatal outcome
26
Understanding the CTG
Chapter
4 Technical Aspects
Harriet Stevenson and Edwin Chandraharan
Introduction
The CTG machine (Figure 4.1) allows recording of fetal heart rate (FHR) and a representa-
tion of uterine activity over time. This allows an assessment of the integrity of autonomic
nervous system control of the FHR (baseline FHR and variability), the integrity of somatic
nervous system (accelerations), the sleep–activity cycle of the fetus as well as the presence of
ongoing mechanical or hypoxic stresses (i.e. decelerations)
Parts of the Machine

CARDIOtocograph –Records the Features of the FHR
Transabdominal Monitoring –Noninvasive Monitoring
• The FHR is recorded both on the CTG paper and is displayed on the CTG monitor
(Figure 4.2). It is also heard as an audible signal (which can be turned down or off as
necessary).
• This is measured using a Doppler ultrasound device; this works by propagating a sound
wave through the mother’s abdomen. The speed at which a sound wave travels through
a substance (or medium) is determined by the density, with sound travelling roughly
four times faster in water than air.
• When two substances of different densities lie next to each other, the surface or
boundary at which they meet is called an interface. As a sound wave travels through
the first substance and comes to the interface with the other substance, some of the
sound will pass or propagate through the second substance and some will be bounced
back towards the source of the sound. It is this sound wave that is bounced back and
detected by the Doppler ultrasound transducer.
• A Doppler ultrasound apparatus is placed on the maternal abdomen over the fetus’
anterior shoulder (as determined by palpation) and repositioned until a good signal
is achieved. A water-based ultrasonic gel is placed between the transducer and the
woman’s abdominal wall to provide a good contact. This ultrasound gel has a similar
density to the woman’s abdomen allowing sound waves to travel through it in a similar
way, thus cutting down on interference.

26
27
Chapter 4: Understanding the CTG 27
Figure 4.1 CTG machine with the

transducer and the ‘Toco’.
Fetal movement counter
Abdominal Transducer
The ‘Toco’
• The transducer exists to make and receive sound waves. The sound wave is made by
passing a high-frequency electrical current through a piezoelectric crystal. When an
electric current is passed through a piezoelectric crystal, the crystal changes shape;
this change in shape creates a sound wave, which propagates through the woman’s
abdomen. The piezoelectric effect is also such that when a piezoelectric crystal is
squeezed or released from pressure, it will convert some of this energy into an electric
current; this electric current from reflected sound waves is used to determine the FHR.
• How often the electric current to the piezoelectric crystal is turned on and off
determines the frequency of the sound waves. Frequency is measured in hertz (with 1
hertz being 1 cycle per second).
• Doppler ultrasound in this instance is not being used to create an image of the fetus
but rather to determine the frequency of the Doppler shift within the fetal circulation
changes. See Box 4.1 for an explanation of Doppler shift.
Box 4.1 Explanation of Doppler Shift

In a CTG machine, the sound waves generated by the transducer normally ‘hit’ the fetal heart
chambers, which are in constant motion, thereby creating a Doppler shift.
When a defined frequency of sound waves is sent from the transducer, if the surface on
which they bounce off is stationary, the same frequency of wave length will be reflected
back. In contrast, if the sound waves ‘hit’ a moving object (e.g. fetal cardiac chambers), then,
the frequency of reflected sound wave will be altered resulting in a ‘Doppler shift’.
Caution: Erroneous monitoring of maternal iliac vessels may occur. The Doppler shift caused
by moving blood within the vessels may result in the maternal pulse to be monitored instead
of the FHR.
Fetal Scalp Electrode - Invasive Monitoring

• This is an invasive method of monitoring in which an electrode is attached to the baby’s
head. For this method to be suitable, the membranes either must have already been
ruptured or should be artificially ruptured to allow application of the scalp clip. There
must also be sufficient dilation of the cervix to allow the electrode to pass through.
28
28 Chapter 4: Understanding the CTG
Figure 4.2 CTG display.
• Measurement of FHR is achieved by measuring the time between R deflections on the

fetal ECG. This is referred to as the ‘R–R interval’.
• One disadvantage is that this method of monitoring is not suitable for women with an
increased risk of vertical transmission, e.g. HIV, hepatitis B or C. Rarely, the fetal scalp
electrode (FSE) may cause injury to the fetal scalp.
• One advantage of this method is a reduced chance of ‘loss of contact’ as the clip is
applied directly to the baby’s scalp.
CardioTOCOgraph –Measurement of Uterine Activity

Abdominal Transducer - Non Invasive Monitoring
Abdominal transducer is used to measure uterine activity (tocograph).
• The ‘toco’ is placed on the maternal anterior abdominal wall over the fundus of the
uterus, held in place by a stretchy elastic band to monitor the frequency and length
(i.e. duration) of uterine contractions. The amplitude of the tocograph is related to
the change in shape and tone of the anterior abdominal wall and does not reflect the
strength of the uterine contraction. As the uterus lies beneath the anterior abdominal
wall, it changes the shape and tone of the overlying abdominal wall during uterine
contractions. This creates a pressure wave that is recorded by the tocograph (Figure 4.2).
• However, other factors can also change the shape and tone of the abdominal wall such
as vomiting or pushing with the valsalva manoeuvre. Therefore, the recording on the
tocograph does not always represent uterine activity.
• The strength of contractions is best assessed with how painful they are to the
woman, whether she is making good progress in labour and whether there are
ongoing changes (decelerations) on the CTG trace. Fewer contractions of a good
length and strength can be superior to frequent, weak, short-lived contractions in
achieving progress in labour.
Internal Pressure Transducers - Invasive Monitoring

• This method of measuring the pressure generated by contractions uses direct
manometry or a pressure transducer on the tip of a flexible catheter, which is threaded
into the uterine cavity via the cervix. Though, in theory, they offer more accurate
29
measurement of strength and timings of contractions including the ‘resting tone’,

they are rarely used outside of a research context in the United Kingdom. One of the
drawbacks of internal pressure monitoring is that the uterine cavity is split into several
compartments by the fetal parts. The pressure in different compartments will vary
leading to erroneous results.
CardiotocoGRAPH–Display of the CTG Trace

• All CTG traces should be identified with unique patient identifiers and correct time
and date as one would for any other documentation in a patient’s notes. It is very
important to check that paper has been loaded in correct orientation.
• One should be aware of the ‘paper speed’, which refers to the speed at which the CTG
trace moves. In the United Kingdom, the paper speed is 1 cm per minute, and in the
United States, a paper speed of 3 cm per minute is used, whereas in Scandinavian
countries, a paper speed of 2 cm is used.
Paper Printout
• Advantage: It can be inserted into the hand-held notes and travel between centres with
the mother. This allows any CTG traces done to be compared with the fetus’ previous
traces.
• Disadvantage: Paper traces are recorded on ‘thermosensitive’ paper, which degrades
over time. This is a reason that traces are stored in dark-brown envelopes to avoid
fading when exposed to light. For risk management, the CTG traces should be
photocopied, which will avoid such fading and would enable storage of traces for a
longer period of time.
Electronic Display and Storage

• Electronic display allows the CTG to be displayed both in the room and on a central
monitor. This allows the labour ward coordinator or obstetrician to monitor the CTG
trace of more than one woman at a time without having to go into the room or disturb
the woman in labour. It allows the trace to be stored electronically on a central system
for a prolonged length of time.
Pitfalls
Doubling of FHR
If the baseline FHR is <100 bpm, sometimes the CTG machine may double the heart rate
and, therefore, an erroneous recording may be obtained. This would result in a ‘bradycardia’
of 60 bpm being recorded as 120 bpm, leading to false reassurance. A sudden shift in the
previously recorded baseline heart rate, absence of accelerations and a reduction in baseline
variability may give a clue to doubling of FHR.
Halving of FHR
If the baseline FHR is >200 bpm, the CTG machine may halve the FHR to 100 bpm as it
tries to ‘autocorrelate’ the signals to ensure that the recording falls within the normal range.
30
30 Chapter 4: Understanding the CTG
Figure 4.3 Recording of the CTG trace ‘upside down’ giving a false impression of ‘reduced baseline variability’.
Note the date and time printed upside down at the bottom of the CTG trace.
Therefore, in cases of fetal tachycardias, especially supraventricular tachycardias, a lower

heart rate may be erroneously monitored
Erroneous Monitoring of Maternal Heart Rate as FHR

If the fetal heart transducer is placed over the maternal iliac vessels, especially during the
second stage of labour when the fetal head (and the heart) is lower within the birth canal,
the transducer may pick up stronger signals from the pulsations of maternal iliac vessels.
This would lead to erroneous recording of maternal heart rate as FHR and resultant false
reassurance and poor perinatal outcomes. A sudden shift in baseline FHR, accelerations
coinciding with contractions and a sudden improvement in a decelerative CTG trace may
indicate erroneous monitoring of the maternal heart rate.
Loss of Contact or Poor Signal Quality

This may occur due to incorrect placement of the transducer or due to maternal obesity.
Internal monitoring using FSE should be considered, if there are no contraindications for
the same.
Interference
The use of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation machine for pain relief during
labour may result in the interference of electrical signals, especially if fetal ECG signals are
obtained via the FSE.
Incorrect Placement of Thermosensitive Paper

The CTG trace may be recorded upside down (Figure 4.3), resulting in confusion or errors
in interpretation leading to poor perinatal outcomes.
31
Further Reading 2. Tolcher MC, Traynor KD. Understanding

cardiotocography: technical aspects.
1. Chandraharan E, Arulkumaran S. Current Women’s Health Reviews.
Prevention of birth asphyxia: 2013(9): 140–44.
responding appropriately to 3. Chandraharan E, Arulkumaran S.
cardiotocograph (CTG) traces. Best Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring
Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2007; in current and future practice. J Obstet
21(4): 609–24. Gynecol India. 2008; 58(2): 121–30.
32
Applying Fetal Physiology to

Chapter
5 Interpret CTG Traces
Predicting the NEXT Change
Edwin Chandraharan
Adult Physiological Response to Hypoxic Stress

All living beings are exposed to hypoxic stress in their day-to-day life and have inbuilt physi-
ological mechanisms to compensate for short-lasting and long-lasting hypoxic stresses so as
to protect the myocardium –the only organ that is protected at all cost. This is because, if
the ‘pump’ (i.e. the myocardium) fails, every other organ in the body would also fail due to
lack of tissue perfusion.
The inherent desire to protect the myocardium is exemplified in the anatomical arrange-
ment of blood vessels supplying the vital organs. Coronary artery is the first branch that is
given off, from the root of the aorta (where oxygenation is maximum) to supply the pump
(i.e. myocardium). This is followed by the carotid arteries given off from the arch of the aorta
to supply the brain. Therefore, these two organs have been prioritized from conception: the
heart first and the brain next.
Adults are exposed to hypoxic stress during everyday activities, which include running,
exercising, climbing stairs, sexual intercourse as well as brisk walking, all of which require
increased distribution of oxygen and nutrients to muscles or sexual organs (i.e. whichever
organ is active at the given time). However, if the heart muscle (myocardium) is forced to
pump blood faster and with greater force (increased rate and force of contraction of the
myocardium) without first ensuring adequate oxygenation of the myocardium itself, it
would lead to myocardial hypoxia and acidosis due to increased oxygen demand.
Therefore, all living beings are inherently programmed to protect the myocardium first
by maintaining a positive energy balance with the onset of hypoxic stress. This is to enable
the myocardium to be well oxygenated (to maintain aerobic metabolism) prior to increasing
the heart rate to supply the brain and other essential organs during hypoxic stress.
In adults, increased respiratory rate is seen as the first physiological response to any
hypoxic stress to protect the myocardium from hypoxic injury. With the progression of
intensity of hypoxia, both rate and depth of respiration increase to supply the myocardium,
so that it could start pumping oxygen and nutrients to other essential organs, after ensuring
a positive energy balance in the ‘pump’. This is clearly evident during physical exercise, such
as going on an exercise bike or treadmill, whereby the rate and depth of respiration progres-
sively increases as the hypoxic stress worsens, and this is associated with tachycardia due to
the release of catecholamines (adrenaline and noradrenaline).

32
33
Chapter 5: Applying Fetal Physiology to Interpret CTG Traces 33
Catecholamines have three important functions: they increase the heart rate and the
force of contraction of the myocardium to pump blood faster; they cause intense periph-
eral vasoconstriction to divert blood from nonessential organs (skin, scalp, gut) to supply
oxygenated blood to central organs as well as a consequent increase in peripheral resistance
thereby increasing systemic blood pressure to maximize the force with which blood could
be supplied to central organs. Finally, they help in the breakdown of stored glycogen within
the myocardium and other cells into glucose to generate additional energy substrate. All
these physiological responses are aimed at ensuring compensation to ongoing hypoxic stress
so as to maintain a positive energy balance within the myocardium, even at the expense of
transient hypoxia to nonessential organs.
Fetal Physiological Response to Hypoxic Stress

A fetus has similar mechanisms to mount a physiological compensatory response to intrau-
terine hypoxic stress. In fact, its capacity to respond to hypoxic stress is greater than that of
adults because of the presence of fetal haemoglobin (which has a greater affinity for oxygen)
and the increased amount of haemoglobin (18–22 g/dL), which not only carries more oxy-
gen but also acts as an effective buffer when there is respiratory or metabolic acidosis.
Unlike the adult, a fetus does not have the capacity to significantly increase the stroke
volume (i.e. force of contraction of the myocardium) to the same extent and, therefore,
increases the cardiac output predominantly through increase in its heart rate. In addition,
a fetus is able to effectively and rapidly redistribute oxygenated blood to the central organs
(brain, heart and adrenal glands) by shutting off blood supply to all the organs as the pla-
centa performs the functions of the kidneys, liver and the lungs during intrauterine life.
However, despite all the additional protective mechanisms to deal with intrauterine
hypoxic stresses, a fetus, unlike the adult, has a huge disadvantage because it is immersed
in a pool of amniotic fluid. Therefore, a fetus is not exposed to the external environment
and has no access to atmospheric oxygen. This means that a fetus, unlike adults, is unable to
rapidly increase the rate and depth of respiration to protect its myocardium from hypoxic
injury (and resultant myocardial acidosis) as its primary response to hypoxia. It is plainly
obvious that increasing the heart rate to increase the cardiac output to supply central organs
to avoid hypoxic ischaemic injury without first oxygenating the myocardium to maintain a
positive energy balance would lead to a rapid myocardial hypoxia and acidosis, resulting in
terminal bradycardia.
Therefore, the only mechanism available for a fetus to maintain a positive myocardial
energy balance during periods of hypoxic stress that occur in utero is to reduce the demand
of myocardial fibres because a rapid increase in the supply of oxygen by increasing the rate
and depth of respiration, as in adults, is not at all possible. It is for this reason that the
fetus slows down the heart rate (decelerations) during hypoxic stress in order to maintain a
positive energy balance in the myocardium during episodes of hypoxic stress (Figure 5.1).
This mechanism of reflex slowing down of heart rate in response to any hypoxic stress not
only reduces myocardial workload and conserves energy but also improves time available
for diastolic filling and coronary circulation. When oxygenation is restored (i.e. relief of
umbilical cord compression or re-establishment of placental oxygenation as uterine contrac-
tion ceases), a fetus is able to recover its heart rate immediately to its baseline or even can
increase it to a higher rate (due to catecholamine surge) to supply oxygen to the brain and
other vital organs during hypoxic stress.
34
34 Chapter 5: Applying Fetal Physiology to Interpret CTG Traces
Figure 5.1 At the onset of hypoxic stress, a fetus may show decelerations to protect its myocardium in response
to strong uterine contractions, while showing accelerations in between contractions. If hypoxia progresses,
these decelerations would become wider and deeper, and accelerations may disappear as the fetus attempts to
conserve oxygen and energy.
Deceleration, therefore, should be considered as a reflex fetal response to any mechanical

or hypoxic stress to protect its myocardium. It is a useless exercise if one attempts to ‘name and
shame the decelerations’ by using several terminologies such as ‘type I’, ‘type II’, ‘early’, ‘variable’,
‘late’, ‘severe variable’, as one does not do so for increased rate and depth of respiration that is
observed during hypoxic stresses in adults. The morphology of the decelerations, similar to the
rate and depth of adult respiration, would depend on the intensity and duration of the hypoxic
stress. There needs to a paradigm shift in the reaction to decelerations, as there are not asso-
ciated with fetal compromise but rather a fetal response to ongoing stress via a baroreceptor
or chemoreceptor reflex mechanism. Some clinicians panic when they observe decelerations
on the CTG trace, and this is similar to adults in a playground panicking when they observe
athletes increasing the rate and depth of their respiration during hypoxic stress (e.g. sprinting).
Decelerations would be progressively wider and deeper as the hypoxic stress progresses
during labour (similar to increase in the rate and depth of respiration in adults as the exer-
cise becomes more strenuous). Similarly, decelerations would get shallower and narrower
when the hypoxic stress is reversed (similar to a reduction in the rate and depth of respira-
tion in adults that is seen when the treadmill is slowed down).
Instead of morphological classification of decelerations into ‘early’, ‘variable’ and ‘late’
and several ‘unknown’ decelerations, clinicians should classify decelerations according to
three main underlying mechanisms:
• Baroreceptor decelerations occur secondary to an increase in fetal systemic blood
pressure (occlusion of umbilical arteries during compression of the umbilical cord) and
are characterized by a rapid fall in heart rate without any delay and a rapid recovery to
the original baseline FHR (Figure 5.2).
• Chemoreceptor decelerations occur secondary to the accumulation of carbon dioxide
and metabolic acids during hypoxia (utero-placental insufficiency, repeated and
sustained uterine contractions or a prolonged umbilical cord compression) and are
characterized by a gradual and slow recovery to the original baseline fetal heart rate
even after cessation of uterine contractions (Figure 5.3).
35
Figure 5.2 ‘Baroreceptor’ decelerations with a rapid drop and a rapid return to baseline FHR.
Figure 5.3 ‘Chemoreceptor decelerations’ with a gradual recovery to original baseline FHR. The depth of
deceleration is not marked as a baroreceptor deceleration and the heart rate continues to recover even after
contractions cease.
36
Figure 5.4 A prolonged deceleration. In acute hypoxic stress, a fetus rapidly drops the heart rate to protect the
myocardium until the hypoxic stress disappears. However, in intrapartum accidents (e.g. placental abruption),
irreversible myocardial damage may occur due to a combination of hypoxia and fetal hypovolemia.
• Prolonged decelerations occur as a reflex response to acute hypoxia (placental abruption,

umbilical cord prolapse, uterine rupture or uterine hyperstimulation) or hypotension
(epidural analgesia) to protect the myocardium from hypoxic ischaemic injury by
reducing myocardial workload and to improve coronary blood flow (Figure 5.4).
Physiological Approach to CTG Interpretation:

‘8Cs’ Approach to Management
Clinical picture: One should consider the presence of meconium staining of amniotic fluid,
intrapartum bleeding, evidence of clinical chorioamnionitis, rate of progress of labour,
presence of uterine scar, administration of medications to the mother or fetus, fetal car-
diac malformations, ongoing uterine hyperstimulation and fetal reserve while interpreting
a CTG trace.
Cumulative uterine activity: This refers to the frequency, duration and strength of uter-
ine contractions over a 10-minute period. Unfortunately, the tocograph does not provide
information regarding the strength of uterine contractions. Calculating the total duration of
cumulative uterine activity (sum of frequency and duration of contractions in a 10-minute
period) would give clinicians a better indication of ongoing uterine activity rather than
solely concentrating on the ‘frequency’ of contractions alone, especially when oxytocin is
used to augment labour. It is important to recognize that fetal hypoxia may rapidly ensue
even if there are only four uterine contractions in 10 minutes but if these contractions last
for 90 seconds each (cumulative uterine activity of 6 minutes). This is similar to having six
37
uterine contractions lasting for a minute each in 10 minutes. Similarly, if the strength (tone)
of contractions increases, rapid fetal compromise may ensue.
Cycling of FHR: Cycling refers to alternating periods of activity and quiescence character-
ized by normal and reduced baseline FHR variability. The presence of accelerations signifies
a healthy ‘somatic’ nervous system. Although the absence of accelerations is of uncertain
significance during labour, the evidence of cycling should always be sought while interpret-
ing CTG traces. The absence of cycling may occur in hypoxia, fetal infections including
encephalitis and intrauterine fetal stroke.
Central organ oxygenation: This is determined by a careful assessment of baseline FHR
and baseline variability. Baseline FHR is a function of the myocardium (heart muscle) due
to electrical activity of the sinoatrial node and is modified by the autonomic nervous system,
various medications (e.g. salbutamol) as well as catecholamines. Baseline variability reflects
the function of the autonomic nervous system centres, which are situated within the brain
and, therefore, indicates the optimum functioning of these centres. An unstable baseline
and loss of baseline variability would reflect hypoxia to the central organs (myocardium
and brain) that would require urgent action to improve utero-placental circulation through
intrauterine resuscitation (stopping oxytocin infusion, intravenous fluids, administration of
terbutaline and changing maternal position) and to ensure immediate delivery if intrauter-
ine resuscitation is not possible or appropriate (e.g. in uterine rupture) or if the measures to
improve fetal oxygenation were not effective.
Catecholamine surge: A fetus exposed to a gradually evolving hypoxia would release cat-
echolamines, and this will be reflected on the CTG trace by a slow and progressive increase
in baseline FHR usually over several hours. It is vital to recognize this attempted fetal com-
pensation to ongoing hypoxic or mechanical stress so as to take measures to correct any
avoidable factors (stopping or reducing oxytocin or changing maternal position) to improve
fetal oxygenation. If corrective measures are effective, the FHR should come back to its pre-
vious baseline rate. Continuing catecholamine surge is energy-intensive to the myocardium,
and if timely intervention is not instituted, this may lead to a loss of baseline variability
(decompensation of brain centres) culminating in a terminal fetal bradycardia secondary to
myocardial hypoxia and acidosis.
Chemo-or baroreceptor decelerations: The presence of decelerations would indicate
ongoing mechanical (head compression or umbilical cord compression) or hypoxic (utero-
placental insufficiency) stress. It is important to determine whether the underlying patho-
physiology is through a baroreceptor or a chemoreceptor mechanism. A slow recovery to
baseline FHR reflects a chemoreceptor-mediated response. In contrast, baroreceptor decel-
erations are characterized by a rapid fall and an instantaneous recovery to the original
baseline. It is vital to appreciate that the fetal response is determined in-between the decel-
erations (i.e. a stable baseline and a reassuring variability indicative of good oxygenation to
the central nervous system as well as a rise in baseline suggestive of ongoing catecholamine
surge).
Cascade: It is important to understand the wider clinical picture and type of intrapartum
hypoxia (acute, subacute or a gradually evolving), and the need for additional tests of fetal
well-being to confirm or exclude intrapartum hypoxia would become less if fetal response to
hypoxic stress (a stable baseline and a reassuring variability) is determined prior to making
management plans. Clinicians should refrain from merely classifying the CTG trace into
‘normal’, ‘suspicious’ or ‘pathological’ (or category I, II or III/normal, intermediary or abnor-
mal) based on the patterns observed on the CTG trace without incorporating the overall
38
Hypoxia begins with Decelerations
Accelerations – disappear
Baseline HR – increases
Compensated Stress (Stable Baseline HR and normal variability)
Decompensation: unstable baseline and changes in variability
End Stage (Myocardial failure with a‘step-ladder’ pattern to death’)

Figure 5.5 ‘ABCDE’ approach to predicting the NEXT change in the CTG trace due to an evolving hypoxia.
clinical picture and fetal response to stress. A pathological CTG with a stable baseline FHR
and a reassuring variability often needs no intervention as opposed to a ‘suspicious’ CTG
with total loss of baseline variability or with ‘shallow decelerations’.
Consider the NEXT change on the CTG trace if intrapartum hypoxia progresses
(Figure 5.5). If a fetus presents in early labour with a stable baseline FHR, reassuring vari-
ability, presence of accelerations and cycling and is exposed to an evolving intrapartum
hypoxia, it will show decelerations first. These decelerations will become wider and deeper
as hypoxia progresses.
As the fetus attempts to conserve energy (i.e. stops movements of nonessential muscles),
accelerations will disappear from the CTG trace. This will be followed by a ‘catecholamine
surge’ to compensate for ongoing hypoxic stress leading to a gradual increase in baseline
FHR. Depending on the individual physiological reserve and the rapidity and intensity of
hypoxic stress, some fetuses may remain in this compensated state (i.e. ongoing deceler-
ations with an increased baseline FHR with reassuring variability). The onset of cerebral
decompensation will be heralded by a reduction and subsequent loss of baseline variability,
and finally, if no corrective action is taken, myocardial decompensation will ensue leading
to a ‘stepladder’ pattern to death culminating on a terminal bradycardia.
Key Messages on Physiology-Based CTG Interpretation

• A fetus would attempt to protect its myocardium in response to a hypoxic or
mechanical stress by slowing its heart rate to conserve energy and to preserve a positive
myocardial energy balance. This reflex slowing of the heart is termed deceleration.
• A stable baseline FHR and a reassuring variability denote good oxygenation of central
organs (myocardium and brain) despite ongoing late or variable decelerations that may
result in a ‘pathological’ CTG.
39
• Clinicians should anticipate a progressive increase in baseline FHR following

ongoing decelerations due to catecholamine surge. This indicates a progressively
increasing hypoxic stress and fetal compensatory response to redistribute oxygen
to central organs. Immediate action should be taken to improve intrauterine
environment.
• If no action is taken, a loss of baseline variability or saltatory pattern (indicative of
hypoxia to autonomic centres of the brain resulting in decompensation) or terminal
bradycardia (myocardial decompensation leading to hypoxia and acidosis) may ensure.
• Deep decelerations which are short-lasting indicate intact fetal reflex responses to
ongoing hypoxic or mechanical stress, while shallow decelerations in combination
of a loss of baseline variability may indicate a depression of brain centres, and this
requires urgent action to improve fetal oxygenation or immediate delivery, if the CTG
is classified as ‘preterminal’.
• The ‘8Cs’ approach to CTG interpretation may help understand the wider clinical
picture and fetal response to ongoing hypoxia, type of intrapartum hypoxia as well as
evidence of decompensation.
Exercises
CTG Exercise A
1. A 32-year-old primigravida was admitted with spontaneous onset of labour at 39 weeks
plus 3 days of gestation. On vaginal examination, her cervix was 6 cm dilated with evi-
dence of spontaneous rupture of membranes. Clear amniotic fluid was draining and
the presenting part was at the level of ischial spines. FHR was 128 bpm on intermittent
auscultation. Four hours later, she was still found to be 6 cm dilated and, therefore, oxy-
tocin infusion was commenced.
Time to predict the NEXT change on the CTG trace:
a. What changes would you expect to see on the CTG trace after commencement of
oxytocin infusion if the fetus is exposed to an evolving hypoxic stress?
b. If hypoxia worsens, what would you expect to see happening to the decelerations?
c. If oxytocin infusion is further increased and hypoxia worsens, what would be
expected to be seen on the CTG trace?
d. What would you expect to see on the CTG trace?
e. After the onset of cerebral decompensation (loss of baseline FHR variability), if
oxytocin infusion was further increased, what is the next (i.e. last) organ to fail and
what would you observe on the CTG trace?
CTG Exercise B
1. A primigravida was admitted with spontaneous onset of labour at 40 weeks plus 6 days
of gestation. Oxytocin was commenced for failure to progress at 5 cm dilatation, 2
hours after artificial rupture of membranes. Clear amniotic fluid was noted and CTG
trace was commenced. Apply ‘8Cs’ on the CTG trace (Figure 5.11).
2. What features would you expect to see on the CTG trace if this fetus is exposed to a
gradually evolving hypoxic stress?
40
Figure 5.11
3. After protecting the myocardium, how will the fetus redistribute oxygen to central
organs? What would you expect to see on the CTG trace?
4. What would happen to ongoing decelerations as hypoxia progresses?
5. What would you expect to see if there is onset of fetal decompensation?
41
Avoiding Errors
Chapter
6 Maternal Heart Rate
Sophie Eleanor Kay and Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
• The misinterpretation of maternal heart rate (MHR) artefact as fetal heart rate (FHR)
can potentially mask abnormal FHR trace, giving the appearance of a falsely reassuring
trace. This can lead to increased perinatal morbidity and mortality due to the
nonrecognition of intrapartum hypoxia or fetal demise in the second stage.1–4
• The misinterpretation of MHR artefact can potentially appear as an abnormal trace,
masking a normal FHR trace and resulting in unnecessary interventions such as
caesarean section.1,3
• Studies have suggested that clinicians underdiagnose misinterpretation of MHR. The
risk factors for MHR misinterpretation include an active fetus, twin gestation and
obesity.5 It is felt to be related to increased maternal movement in the second stage of
labour.4
• External FHR monitors and internal fetal scalp electrodes (FSEs) are both susceptible
to maternal artefact.2,4
Key Features on the CTG Trace

• During the second stage of labour, based on maternal physiology, one would expect
MHR accelerations during contractions or bearing-down efforts, whereas, based on
fetal physiology, one would expect the FHR to show decelerations1–3,6 (Figure 6.1).
• Unexpected low range of FHR: Maternal baseline tends to be 60–100 bpm, whereas
fetal baseline rate is 110–160 bpm.2,3
• Higher mean variability1,2 with repetitive accelerations coincides with contractions
(Figure 6.2).
• A sudden loss of FHR recording due to capturing the MHR periodically and then
returning to capture FHR.2,3
• A sudden improvement of the CTG trace: disappearance of decelerations and
appearance of high-amplitude accelerations with or without a shift in baseline FHR.
• Continuation of CTG recording after delivery.1

41
42
42 Chapter 6: Avoiding Errors
Figure 6.1 FHR showing decelerations with contractions (upper tracing), whereas the maternal heart rate shows
accelerations with contractions (lower tracing).
Figure 6.2 Increased baseline FHR variability with repetitive accelerations associated with maternal heart rate
recording.
Key Pathophysiology behind Patterns Seen on CTG Trace

• The recording of MHR with external FHR monitors is due to the transducer picking
up sound waves reflected from large maternal vessels.1,2 During labour, as the fetal
head moves deeper into the pelvis, clinicians often move the abdominal transducer
further towards the pelvis so as to improve the ‘signal quality’ of the CTG trace, which
increases the likelihood of picking up MHR.2
• FSEs detect and amplify FHR without the maternal signal. However, if there is no
detectable signal, such as in the case of fetal demise, the maternal signal is amplified
and displayed.1,4
• Normally with FHR interpretation, decelerations are seen with uterine contractions
due to head compression, which activates the parasympathetic nervous system, leading
to decelerations of the FHR, or due to umbilical cord compression or utero-placental
insufficiency as a result of reduced placental perfusion.2
• However, if MHR is being interpreted, accelerations will be seen with contractions
and active pushing. This is due to increased cardiac output related to increased
cardiac stroke volume in labour, along with increased heart rate.1 It is believed
that haemodynamic changes occur due to the displacement of blood from the
choriodecidual space and an increase in venous return to the heart.1 Maternal anxiety
43
Chapter 6: Avoiding Errors 43
Figure 6.3 The maternal pulse (dots) is very similar to the recorded baseline FHR. In this case, the mother had
raised temperature, and it is clear that erroneous monitoring was avoided.
and pain leads to catecholamine release during labour, contractions and active pushing,
further increasing MHR.1,2,4
Recommended Management
• Once signal ambiguity is suspected, evaluate by assessing maternal pulse in comparison
to auscultation of recorded FHR. If FHR and MHR are closely approximated, then it
suggests misinterpretation of MHR.3
• Recording of MHR can be excluded by simultaneous recording of FHR and MHR such
as by using a pulse oximetry probe.1–4
• Placement of an FSE is thought to reduce chances of erroneous recording of MHR, but
it is still susceptible to artefact.2
• Fetal ECG signals can be analysed using a STAN (ST-Analyser) monitor with an FSE
and ‘reference electrode’ on the maternal thigh.2
• If FHR is being recorded, then the ECG complex will show a p-wave. If MHR is being
recorded, the p-wave will be absent because the low-voltage maternal p-wave does
not have sufficient ‘signal strength’ to reach the maternal skin electrode placed on the
thigh.2
Key Tips to Optimize Outcome

• The knowledge of the physiological differences between fetal and maternal heart rate
ensures more prompt recognition of erroneous recording and appropriate action to
ensure that FHR is correctly recorded.2
• Quick clarification and identification of concerns3 is essential if the recorded pulse rate
is similar to the recorded FHR (Figure 6.3).
• Simultaneous use of maternal pulse oximetry with FHR monitoring or STAN
monitoring of fetal ECG waveform can help clinicians to exclude MHR monitoring
with confidence.1–3
44
44 Chapter 6: Avoiding Errors
Common Pitfalls
• Late/nonidentification of MHR as FHR.
• Late/nonidentification of changes of heart rate from decelerations during contractions
(indicative of FHR) to accelerations during contractions (indicative of MHR).
Consequences of Mismanagement
• Poor neonatal outcome secondary to missed diagnosis of fetal hypoxia, fetal
bradycardia/tachycardia or fetal demise.2,7
• Inappropriate intervention secondary to interpreting MHR as FHR, with the
background of a normal FHR.1
References 4. Paquette S, Moretti F, O’Reilly K,

Ferraro ZM, Oppenheimer L. The
1. Sherman DJ, Frenkel E, Kurzweil Y, Padua incidence of maternal artefact
A, Arieli S, Bahar M. Characteristics during intrapartum fetal heart rate
of maternal heart rate patterns during monitoring. J Obstet Gynaecol Canada.
labor and delivery. American College 2014;36(11):962–8.
of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 5. Herbert WN, Stuart NN, Buter LS.
2002;99:542–7. Electronic fetal heart rate monitoring
2. Nurani R, Chandraharan E, Lowe with intrauterine fetal demise.
V, Ugwumadu A, Arulkumaran S. J Obstet Gynecol Neonat Nurs.
Misidentification of maternal heart rate 1987;16(4):249–5 2.
as fetal on cardiotocography during 6. Abdulhay EW, Oweis RJ, Alhaddad AM,
the second stage of labor: the role Sublaban FN, Radwan MA, Almasaeed
of the fetal electrocardiograph. Acta HM. Non-invasive fetal heart rate
Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica. monitoring techniques. Biomed Sci Eng.
2012;91:1428–32. 2014;2(3):53–67.
3. Emereuwaonu I. Fetal heart rate 7. Hanson L. Risk management in
misrepresented by maternal heart rate: a intrapartum fetal monitoring: accidental
case of signal ambiguity. Am J Clin Med. recording of the maternal heart rate. J
2012;9(1):52–7. Perinat Neonatal Nurs 2010;24(1):7–9.
45
Antenatal Cardiotocography
Chapter
7 Francesco D’Antonio and Amar Bhide
Key Facts
Indications for Antenatal Fetal Testing
• The aim of antenatal fetal surveillance is to identify fetuses that are at risk of suffering
intrauterine hypoxia with resultant damage including death. This includes each and
every pregnancy, as no pregnancy is free of this risk.
• The goal of antepartum fetal surveillance is, therefore, to prevent fetal death and to
avoid unnecessary intervention.1
• Several conditions pose additional risks to the fetus, thus theoretically requiring
additional ways of assessment of fetal well-being. These conditions include
prepregnancy or pregnancy-related maternal diseases and fetal-specific problems that
may have a potential negative impact on fetal survival and development2 (Table 7.1).
Current techniques employed for antepartum fetal surveillance include maternal perception
of fetal movements, CTG, vibroacoustic stimulation and ultrasound assessment of growth,
biophysical profile and fetal Doppler.
Role of Antenatal Cardiotocography

CTG is a continuous electronic record of the fetal heart rate (FHR) obtained via an ultra-
sound transducer placed on maternal abdomen and traced on a paper strip. Uterine activity
is assessed using a spring-loaded device, which quantifies the extent of indentation of the
uterine wall and is also traced simultaneously on the same paper. CTG is the most com-
monly adopted tool of fetal assessment before labour. It may be used in isolation or com-
bined with other methods of fetal assessment, such as ultrasound and Doppler, as a part of
fetal biophysical profile.3
Pathophysiology behind CTG Features

• The hypothesis behind the use of CTG is that the integrity of autonomic central
nervous system (CNS), which primary regulates FHR, is a prerequisite for a
healthy fetus.
• All those conditions causing hypoxemia and acidaemia may induce depression of the
CNS of the fetus. This is reflected in abnormal features on the FHR trace.

45
46
46 Chapter 7: Antenatal Cardiotocography
Table 7.1 Common indication for antenatal CTG assessment
Maternal, pregestational Maternal, gestational Fetal

Cardiac diseases Preeclampsia IUGR
Pulmonary diseases Gestational diabetes Infections
Renal diseases Prelabour rupture of the membranes Multiple pregnancies
Thyroid diseases Prolonged pregnancy Fetal anaemia
Autoimmune disease Vaginal bleeding Fetal arrhythmias
Hypertension Reduced fetal movements Oligohydramnios
Diabetes Abdominal trauma
Previous history of adverse obstetric outcome
• The mechanism by which hypoxemia and acidaemia induce an alteration on the CTG
trace is not completely understood, but it is likely to be the result of the depression of
the brain stem centres regulating the activity of the pacemaker cells of the heart.4
• Physiological conditions may alter the CTG trace. Fetal sleep cycle is associated with
reduced baseline variability along with absence of fetal movements. It is a common
cause of apparently abnormal CTG trace and may last for up to 50 minutes. Maternal
administration of drugs that depress the CNS may also result in an abnormal CTG
pattern.
• Accurate interpretation of a CTG trace should take into account the pathophysiology
behind an abnormal trace. A fetus that is not suffering from a condition potentially
leading to hypoxemia and acidaemia is unlikely to have an abnormal CTG on the basis
of a pathological mechanism. Therefore, alternative causes should be investigated.
Interpretation of a CTG Trace
Correct interpretation of CTG requires a complete understanding of the basic features. These
are represented by baseline heart rate (BHR), variability, accelerations and decelerations. It
is important to remember that the knowledge of these basic features and the interpretation
of CTG in the antenatal period are mainly derived from its use in labour.
Baseline Heart Rate
• BHR refers to the mean FHR over a period of 5–10 minutes in the absence of
accelerations and/or decelerations and expressed in beats per minute. A BHR between
110 and 160 is considered normal. A BHR <110 bpm is termed baseline bradycardia,
and >160 bpm is termed baseline tachycardia.
• Gestational age is the main determinant of BHR. There is a progressive decrease in
BHR across gestation and should be taken into account especially when interpreting
a CTG trace before 28 weeks.5 The progressive reduction in BHR across gestation is
thought to be likely the result of the maturation of the parasympathetic system.6
• Uncomplicated moderate bradycardia (defined as a BHR between 100 and 109) and
moderate tachycardia (defined as a BHR between 160 and 179), especially in the
absence of other abnormalities of the CTG trace, are not strong indicators of adverse
neonatal outcome and have a poor predictive value for fetal acidaemia.7,8
47
Chapter 7: Antenatal Cardiotocography 47
Fetal Tachycardia
The main cause inducing fetal tachycardia is represented by maternal fever following infec-
tion, although fever from any source may increase BHR. Other causes of fetal tachycardia
are represented by maternal administration of drugs acting on the sympathetic (terbutaline)
or parasympathetic (atropine) system, fetal cardiac tachyarrhythmia (supraventricular tach-
ycardia or atrial flutter), fetal hyperthyroidism and obstetric emergencies such as placental
abruption.7
Fetal Bradycardia
Bradycardia may reflect the final stage of fetal compromise and impending fetal death,9,10
especially in those conditions leading to severe fetal hypoxemia and acidaemia. It can also
be associated with cardiac arrhythmias, especially complete fetal heart block. Short period
of moderate bradycardia (BHR between 100 and 109, in the absence of other abnormalities
on CTG trace) are not considered harmful for the fetus.
Variability
• Variability refers to the frequency bandwidth through which the basal heart rate varies
in the absence of accelerations or decelerations. It is determined by the continuous and
opposing influences of sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic nervous system on
the cardiac pacemaker.
• FHR variability is known to depend on several factors such as gestational age,
baseline FHR, hypoxia, fetal sleep cycles and maternal administration of medications.
Variability is sometimes further divided in long-term (LTV) and short-term (STV)
variability. This distinction is valid for computerized analysis of the FHR. Such a
distinction is impossible on visual interpretation, and the variability should be called
‘baseline variability’.
• It is important to stress that reduced variability does not always represent an ominous
cause. A careful assessment of physiological and pathological conditions leading to a
reduction in CTG variability should be taken into account in order to correctly stratify
the risk for the fetus.
• Reduced variability may represent an ominous sign for the fetus, predicting fetal
compromise and eventually death, even in the absence of other pathological features on
CTG trace.11
Accelerations
Accelerations are defined as abrupt increase in baseline FHR of >15 bpm and lasting for >15
seconds. They are usually considered a reliable indicator of a healthy fetus. The amplitude of
accelerations may be lower before 30 weeks of gestation.
Decelerations
Decelerations are defined as abrupt decrease in baseline FHR. A deceleration is defined
on the basis of its relation with uterine contraction, shape, depth and duration. Refer to
Chapter 2 for details.
48
Sinusoidal Pattern
• A sinusoidal FHR was originally defined according to the criteria by Modanlou and
Freeman.12
• Stable BHR between 120 and 160 bpm with regular oscillations.
• Amplitude between 5 and 15 bpm.
• Frequency of oscillations between 2 and 5 cycles per minute.
• Absence of accelerations.
• Oscillation above and below the baseline.
• A transient period of sinusoidal FHR may be present in a normal fetus, especially when
it coexists with periods of normal variability. This is often seen during labour and is not
associated with an adverse outcome.13
• A sinusoidal trace may be associated with various pathological conditions such as fetal
anaemia due to red cell alloimmunization, fetomaternal haemorrhage, intracranial
haemorrhage, twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome and ruptured vasa previa,
medications, chorioamnionitis and umbilical cord occlusion.12,14,15
Types of CTG Examinations

Contraction Stress Test
• Contraction stress test (CST) is based on the response of FHR to uterine contractions
and, thus, is a test of utero-placental function. The hypothesis behind the use of
CST is that increased myometrial pressure following a uterine contraction leads to a
collapse of the vessels running through the myometrium, decreasing the blood flow
and oxygen exchange in the intervillous space. A healthy fetus is able to tolerate this
relative reduction in oxygen supply. In the setting of utero-placental insufficiency, a
compromised fetus is unable to tolerate the added stress and exhibits abnormal features
on the CTG.
• Contractions are induced by incremental intravenous oxytocin infusion until a
contraction pattern of three contractions in 10 minutes is established.16 Nipple
stimulation may also be used to induce uterine contractions1 as an alternative.
Observation of late decelerations following ≥50 per cent of contractions constitutes an
abnormal CST. Relative contraindications of CST are represented by conditions that
increase the risk of preterm labour: uterine rupture and haemorrhage, such as preterm
prelabour rupture of the membranes, previous history of preterm birth, placenta previa
and previous classical caesarean section. CST is largely historical and not used widely
in clinical practice.
Non-Stress Test
• Non-stress test (NST) is one of the most widely used methods of antenatal fetal
surveillance. The hypothesis behind the use of NST is that the heart of a fetus with an
intact CNS responds to a movement with an acceleration of the heart rate (reactive
or negative NST). NST is usually performed after 28 weeks of gestation and for a
period of 30 minutes. The optimal interval between two consecutive tests is not clearly
established and depends on the underlying maternal and fetal conditions, gestational
age at examination and the results of the previous test.
49
Figure 7.1 Normal antenatal CTG.
• The absence of fetal heart acceleration following fetal movement or absence of fetal
movements is interpreted as a nonreactive or positive NST. The longer the time interval
with absence of movements/FHR accelerations, the less likely that the explanation is
physiologic variability.
• NST is a visual assessment and subjective interpretation of the FHR pattern.
Several previous publications show that it has substantial inter-and intra-observer
variability.17–22 A reactive test is highly predictive of a healthy fetus; however, a
nonreactive test does not necessarily indicate fetal compromise. False-positive rates
up to 90 per cent have been reported in the past,23 and a careful evaluation of the
preexisting maternal and fetal diseases, gestational age at examination, fetal sleep cycles
and maternal administration of medication acting on fetal CNS should be carried out
when interpreting a CTG trace. NST is primarily a test of fetal function. A fetus that is
acidotic is likely to have a CTG with abnormal features on the basis of a hypoxaemic
mechanism. The first issue is, therefore, to identify those fetuses potentially suffering
from conditions that may lead to hypoxaemia and acidaemia, such as IUGR.
Ultrasound and Doppler assessment may help in this scenario.
The following parameters are widely accepted to be normal for the term fetus.24
• Baseline FHR of 110 to 160 bpm.
• Baseline variability of at least 5 bpm.
• Presence of two or more accelerations of FHR >15 bpm, sustained for at least 15
seconds in a 20-minute period25 –this pattern is termed reactive.
• Absence of decelerations.
Figure 7.1 shows a normal antenatal CTG.
BHR variability and accelerations may decrease or disappear and decelerations in the
FHR may occur when the fetus is hypoxic.24 Figure 7.2 shows a pathological antenatal CTG.
50
Figure 7.2 Pathological antenatal CTG. Note loss of variability and an unprovoked deceleration.
Computerized CTG
• CTG use is limited by problems with interpretation. Many studies have consistently
shown suboptimal inter-and intra-observer reliability, potentially leading to
unnecessary intervention or to lack of intervention when it is required.17–22
• A scoring system reduces the consistency of visual assessment but does not
eliminate it. In order to overcome this limitation, computerized CTG (cCTG) is often
used.4,25,26
• The CTG information is analysed by a computer to satisfy the criteria of normality over
a period of 60 minutes, but the analysis can be stopped if the criteria are met before this
time. These are called ‘Dawes–Redman criteria’ after their developers and are reported
below.27,28
1. The recording must contain at least one episode of high variation.
2. The STV must be >3.0 ms, but if it is <4.5 ms, the LTV averaged across all
episodes of high variation must be greater than the third percentile for
gestational age.
3. There must be no evidence of a high-frequency sinusoidal rhythm.
4. There must be at least one acceleration or a fetal movement rate ≥20 ms per hour
and a LTV averaged across all episodes of high variation that is greater than the
tenth centile for gestational age.
5. There must be at least one fetal movement or three accelerations.
6. There must be no decelerations >20 lost beats if the duration of the recording is <30
minutes and no more than one deceleration of 21–100 lost beats if the duration of
the recording is >30 minutes. However, no deceleration with an amplitude of >100
lost beats should occur at any time.
7. The basal heart rate must be 116–160 bpm if the recording is <30 minutes.
51
Signal Loss > 25%

200
180
160
FHR 1 (bpm) 140
120
100
80
Moves
100
Toco (%) 0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60
(mins)
Dawes/Redman criteria MET by FHR1 at 20 minutes.
Signal loss (%) 0.0

Contractions 0
Fetal movements (per hour) 30
per minute in high 0.56
per minute in low N/A
Basal heart rate (bpm) 135
Accelerations > 10bpm and <= 15bpm 2
Accelerations > 15 bpm 6
Minor decelerations (area <= 20 lost beats) 1
Significant decelerations (area > 20 lost beats) 0
area of largest deceleration (lost beats) 6
High episodes (minutes) 16
at 41 weeks gestation 71.8% of normal fetuses have less variation
Low episodes (minutes) 0
Short term variation (ms) 10.9
ADVICE ONLY. This is NOT a diagnosis.
Figure 7.3 cCTG trace reporting the evaluation of Redman–Dawson criteria.
8. The LTV must be within 3 SDs of its estimated value, or (a) the STV must be >5.0
ms, (b) there must be an episode of high variation with ≥0.5 fetal movement per
minute, (c) the basal heart rate must be ≥120 bpm, and (d) the signal loss must be
<30 per cent.
9. The final epoch of recording must not be a part of a deceleration if the recording is
<60 minutes, or a deceleration at 60 minutes must not be >20 lost beats.
10. There must be no suspected artefacts at the end of the recording if the recording is
<60 minutes.
The risk for fetal hypoxia/acidaemia is extremely low if the Dawes–Redman criteria for nor-
mality are met.28 Figure 7.3 shows a typical report of antenatal cCTG. Note that Dawes–
Redman criteria were met at 20 minutes.
Pearls: CTG in Clinical Practice

• CTG is the most commonly adopted tool for fetal surveillance before labour.
Indications for antenatal CTG include prepregnancy or pregnancy-specific maternal
medical problems and fetal diseases, all having a negative impact on fetal development,2
and CTG evaluation is recommended in all those situations, such as IUGR, potentially
leading to fetal hypoxaemia and acidaemia that are mainly responsible for a change in
normal FHR.29
• The main purpose of CTG as well as all antenatal fetal tests is to identify those fetuses at risk
of suffering hypoxaemia and acidaemia in utero in order to organize prompt intervention.
52
Pitfalls
• Although it is widely used in different clinical conditions, the effectiveness of antenatal
CTG in improving outcome for mother and fetuses during and after pregnancy is
questionable. A recent Cochrane meta-analysis comparing no CTG with traditional
CTG showed no significant difference in perinatal mortality or potentially preventable
deaths, Apgar score or caesarean section rate.
• The risk ratio for using antenatal traditional CTG compared to not using one was 2.05
(95% CI 0.95–4.42).30 This means that the use of traditional CTGs may be associated
with a higher risk of stillbirth. Moreover, all the women involved in the studies
assessed in this meta-analysis were at increased risk for complications. The use of
antenatal CTGs is likely to do more harm than good in low-risk pregnancies, due to
the low probability of fetal hypoxia. Computerized antenatal CTG was associated with
significantly lower relative risk for perinatal mortality (RR 0.2; 95% CI 0.04–0.88) as
compared to conventional CTG for fetal assessment in high-risk pregnancies, without
any difference in Caesarean section rate. However, there was no significant difference
identified in potentially preventable deaths (RR 0.23; 95% CI 0.04–1.29). Current
improvements in ultrasound and Doppler allow reliable recognition of those fetuses
that are at increased risk of complications.31 Antenatal CTG may be of potential benefit
in this group as an additional test on which to base clinical management. Moreover,
cCTG looks promising in reducing perinatal mortality, and randomized clinical trials
are needed to clarify its role.
Consequence of Mismanagement
• Antepartum stillbirth
• Hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy
• Unnecessary operative interventions
Possible Future Developments

Adult cardiology literature has shown that mathematical assessment of variability of the
heart rate is related to survival.32 These investigators introduced a method called phase-
rectified signal averaging (PRSA) that measures the variable elements in the signal, noise
and artefacts of the CTG. The PRSA series can be employed to quantify the ‘average accel-
eration capacity’ (AC) and ‘average deceleration capacity’ (DC) of the signal. In the fetus,
AC and DC are thought to quantify the activities of the sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous system. AC/DC have been reported to be significantly lower in IUGR fetuses as
compared to normally grown controls matched for the gestational age.33 PRSA is reported to
perform at least as well as the STV on cCTG.34 It is uncertain if PRSA will prove to be better
than cCTG in the identification of compromised fetuses.
Conclusions
Conventional CTG is widely used for antenatal fetal assessment in the absence of robust
evidence. There is potential for more harm than good with its use. Large inter-and intra-
observer variability is one of the possible reasons behind this. cCTG has proven advantage
over conventional CTGs, but the drawback is that it may not be widely available. The use of
antenatal CTG to assess fetal well-being in low-risk pregnancies is not recommended.
53
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1. American College of Obstetricians and 12. Modanlou HD, Freeman RK. Sinusoidal
Gynecologists (ACOG). Antepartum fetal fetal heart rate pattern: its definition and
surveillance. 1999. Practice Bulletin No. 9, clinical significance. 1982. Am J Obstet
October, Reaffirmed 2007. Gynecol. 15;1033–1038.
2. National Institute for Health and Clinical 13. Young BK, Katz M, Wilson SJ.
Excellence. Antenatal care: routine care Sinusoidal fetal heart rate. I. Clinical
for the healthy pregnant woman. 2008. significance. 1980. Am J Obstet Gynecol.
London: RCOG Press. 1;587–593.
3. Lalor JG, Fawole B, Alfirevic Z, Devane 14. Epstein H, Waxman A, Gleicher N,
D. Biophysical profile for fetal assessment Lauersen NH. Meperidine-induced
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Database Syst Rev. 23;CD000038. reversal with naloxone. 1982. Obstet
4. Dawes GS. The control of fetal heart rate Gynecol. 59;22S–25S.
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5. Pillai M, James D. The development of heart rate patterns in labour. 1991. Br J
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pregnancy. 1990. Obstet Gynecol. 16. Freeman RK. The use of the oxytocin
76;812–816. challenge test for antepartum clinical
6. Renou P, Newman W, Wood C. Autonomic evaluation of uteroplacental respiratory
control of fetal heart rate. 1969. Am J function. 1975. Am J Obstet Gynecol.
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7. Gilstrap LC, Hauth JC, Toussaint S. Second 17. Borgatta L, Shrout PE, Divon MY.
stage fetal heart rate abnormalities and Reliability and reproducibility of nonstress
neonatal acidosis. 1984. Obstet Gynecol. test readings. 1988. Am J Obstet Gynecol.
63;209–213. 159; 554–558.
8. Gilstrap LC, Hauth JC, Hankins GD, 18. Donker DK, van Geijn HP, Hasman A.
Beck AW. Second-stage fetal heart rate Inter-observer variation in the assessment
abnormalities and type of neonatal of fetal heart rate recordings. 1993. Eur J
acidemia. 1987. Obstet Gynecol. Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 52;21–28.
70;191–195. 19. Flynn AM, Kelly J, Matthews K, O’Conor
9. Jaeggi ET, Friedberg MK. Diagnosis and M, Viegas O. Predictive value of, and
management of fetal brady-arrhythmias. observer variability in, several ways of
2008. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. reporting antepartum cardiotocographs.
31;S50–S53. 1982. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 89;434–440.
10. Larma JD, Silva AM, Holcroft CJ, 20. Hage ML. Interpretation of nonstress tests.
Thompson RE, Donohue PK, Graham 1985. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1;490–495.
EM. Intrapartum electronic fetal heart 21. Lotgering FK, Wallenburg HC, Schouten
rate monitoring and the identification of HJ. Interobserver and intraobserver
metabolic acidosis and hypoxic-ischemic variation in the assessment of antepartum
encephalopathy. 2007. Am J Obstet Gynecol. cardiotocograms. 1982. Am J Obstet
197;e1–8. Gynecol. 15;701–705.
11. Smith JH, Anand KJ, Cotes PM, Dawes 22. Trimbos JB, Keirse MJ. Observer
GS, Harkness RA, Howlett TA, Rees LH, variability in assessment of antepartum
Redman CW. Antenatal fetal heart rate cardiotocograms. 1978. Br J Obstet
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23. Devoe LD, Castillo RA, Sherline DM. 32. Bauer A, Kantelhardt JW, Barthel P,
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Gynecol. 152;1047. H, Bunde A, Malik M, Schmidt G.
24. Gribbin C, Thornton J. Critical evaluation Deceleration capacity of heart rate as a
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pregnancy management options. Eds. James infarction: cohort study. 2006. The Lancet.
DK, Steer PJ, Weiner CP. 2006. Elsevier. 367;1674–1681.
25. Devoe LD. The nonstress test. 1990. Obstet 33. Stampalija T, Casati D, Montico M, Sassi
Gynecol Clin North Am. 17;111–128. R, Rivolta MW, Maggi V, Bauer A, Ferrazzi
E. Parameters influence on acceleration
26. Smith JH, Dawes GS, Redman CW. Low and deceleration capacity based on trans-
human fetal heart rate variation in normal abdominal ECG in early fetal growth
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27. Dawes GS, Redman CW, Smith JH. Biol. 188;104–112.
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analysis of fetal heart rate records at Schneider R, Bauer A, Schneider KT,
the bedside. 1985. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. Schmidt G. New computerized fetal heart
92;317–325. rate analysis for surveillance of intrauterine
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29. Nijhuis IJ, ten Hof J, Mulder EJ, Nijhuis and clinical significance. 2004. J Obstet
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89;27–33. childbirth. 2007. London: RCOG Press.
30. Grivell RM, Alfirevic Z, Gyte GM, Devane 37. Pillai M, James D. The importance of the
D. Antenatal cardiotocography for fetal behavioural state in biophysical assessment
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Rev. 12;CD007863. Gynaecol. 97;1130–1134.
31. Alfirevic Z, Stampalija T, Gyte GM. Fetal 38. Henson G, Dawes GS, Redman CW.
and umbilical Doppler ultrasound in high- Characterization of the reduced heart rate
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Syst Rev. 20;CD007529. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 91;751–755.
55
Intermittent (Intelligent)
Chapter
8 Auscultation in the Low-Risk

Setting
Virginia Lowe and Abigail Archer
Key Facts
• Intermittent auscultation (IA) is appropriate for use in the low-risk setting where
pregnancy and onset of labour have been uncomplicated. It facilitates the normal
physiology of labour by allowing freedom of movement.
• The use of continuous electronic fetal monitoring in this group does not
improve neonatal outcomes, but is associated with higher rates of medical
intervention.
• When used cautiously, IA safely identifies the healthy fetus and promotes
normality.
• Vigilance is needed in interpreting the findings to ensure signs of hypoxia or other
indicators requiring investigation are not overlooked.
• This practice has been termed ‘intelligent auscultation’ to highlight the extension
beyond listening for the presence of a fetal heart, but requires an understanding of fetal
pathophysiology as well as the intrapartum hypoxic process and how this may influence
the features of the fetal heart rate (FHR).
Recommended Method
• On first contact, there should be a thorough review of the whole clinical picture to
ensure that pregnancy and labour have been low risk thus far. Enquiries should be
made as to when fetal movements were last noted by the mother, and this must be
documented.
• The fetal heart should then be auscultated with a pinard stethoscope or hand-held
Doppler to determine the baseline rate. This is usually achieved by counting the
number of beats heard over a period of 1 minute. The heart rate is recorded as an
average number, not as a range. The choice of equipment reduces the likelihood of
mistakenly monitoring the maternal pulse, and to reduce this risk further, the maternal
pulse should also be palpated, measured and documented to demonstrate that they are
different rates.
• Crucially, following this assessment, the caregiver has to establish fetal health. If fetal
movements are currently present, auscultation of the fetal heart should reveal an
acceleration of >15 beats above the baseline rate, demonstrating a nonhypoxic fetus.

55
56
56 Chapter 8: Intermittent Auscultation
If there are currently no movements (although a report that these have previously
been normal), consideration may be given to auscultation after stimulating the fetus
by palpating the maternal abdomen or following digital scalp stimulation at vaginal
examination. Again, an acceleration of at least 15 beats above the baseline should be
observed.
• Finally, await a contraction and auscultate the FHR for 1 minute immediately
afterwards to exclude decelerations. If there are any concerns throughout this
assessment, then CTG monitoring should be commenced. This may be discontinued
after 20 minutes if it is normal and there are no ongoing concerns about fetal health. In
a low-risk labour with normal initial assessment, the fetal heart should be monitored
for 1 minute following a contraction every 15 minutes in the first stage and every 5
minutes in the second stage.
• The baseline heart rate should be plotted on the partogram. If any decelerations are
heard, or if a rise in baseline is noted, further investigation is indicated immediately.
Physiology behind IA
• IA should be the method of choice, where appropriate (i.e. ‘low-risk’ pregnancy),
as it allows the mother to move freely, facilitating the normal physiology of labour.
Furthermore, it avoids the use of CTGs in low-risk labour as the use of CTG in this
situation may be subject to misinterpretation, raising the likelihood of unnecessary
intervention.
• Accelerations demonstrate good fetal health as a reflection of an intact somatic nervous
system (see Chapter 2). These may be associated with fetal movement or stimulation or
may be spontaneous.
• Once chronic hypoxia has been excluded using the method above, then –excluding
catastrophic events –for the fetus to become hypoxic, it will display decelerations and
then a gradually rising baseline. This will be detected when following the principles of
IA and a more intensive assessment of fetal health must be initiated.
• Quiet and active epochs (‘cycling’) are evidence of an intact central nervous system and
will be apparent on the partogram.
• Evidence suggests that the type of deceleration cannot be established by using IA. By
auscultating the fetal heart after a contraction, any decelerations heard will warrant
further investigation. These will either be variable (cord compression) or late (utero-
placental insufficiency/chemoreceptor stimulation) and will not have recovered by
the time the contraction has passed. Decelerations that occur exclusively during
contractions are not usually associated with poor neonatal outcomes.
• FHR changes unrelated to hypoxia may also be detected. An evolving tachycardia
driven by infection, maternal pyrexia or dehydration will be visible on the partogram.
Again, immediate assessment is required, including CTG analysis.
Pitfalls
• A thorough initial assessment is needed to exclude any conditions that may increase the
likelihood of hypoxia developing in the fetus. IA is not appropriate in these cases.
• FHR must always be recorded as a single average figure, not a range. This allows trends
to be seen clearly on the partogram.
57
Chapter 8: Intermittent Auscultation 57
Figure 8.1 FHR ‘overshoots’, which will be noted as repeated ‘accelerations’ after each uterine contraction
(arrows) during IA. Continuous electronic FHR recording should be initiated to exclude ongoing atypical variable
decelerations suggestive of repeated and sustained compression of the umbilical cord.
• The fetal heart must be auscultated immediately following a contraction. Any delay may
mean that the window of opportunity to hear decelerations may be missed, therefore
failing to identify the first evidence of hypoxia.
• Baseline rate and the presence of accelerations and decelerations can be correctly
identified using IA. There is, however, no evidence that either types of deceleration
or variability can be identified. This is not a weakness of IA: the parameters necessary
to highlight the fetus requiring further assessment can be detected. If the caregiver is
attempting to monitor variability through IA, they have misinterpreted the principles of
physiology-based interpretation.
• Accelerations after a contraction are physiologically unlikely, especially as labour
progresses, and are more likely to be an ‘overshoot’ following a deceleration (Figure 8.1)
requiring further investigation. This is because ‘overshoots’ denote an exaggerated fetal
compensatory response to fetal hypotension secondary to sustained compression of the
umbilical cord.
• A rising baseline heart rate warrants a thorough exploration of possible causes,
regardless of whether this is an absolute or relative tachycardia (consider gradually
evolving hypoxia where decelerations may not have been heard with IA or
inflammatory/infective processes).
• Monitoring in the second stage of labour is more frequent due to the increasing
stressors present. However, great care must be taken to ensure monitoring is accurate;
descent of the fetal head means that the likelihood of mistakenly locating blood flow in
the maternal iliac vessels is increased. Active second stage is also a time when maternal
58
58 Chapter 8: Intermittent Auscultation
heart rate (MHR) is often increased due to exertion; so misinterpretation is possible

and caregivers must remain vigilant.
Exercises
1. A 30-year-old primigravida presented with spontaneous labour at 39 weeks, having had
a low-risk pregnancy. On vaginal examination, cervix was 6 cm dilated, fully effaced
with the presenting part 2 to the ischial spines. Bulging membranes were felt. She is
requesting entonox for analgesia.
a. Is CTG monitoring indicated? Why?
b. On auscultation of the fetal heart, for 1 minute after the contraction, the heart
rate is heard at an average of 140 bpm. Using the principles of IA, what is your
diagnosis? What other information do you need?
c. What is your action plan following assessment?
d. Before the next vaginal examination was due, decelerations were heard using a
hand-held Doppler following a contraction. What would your actions be?
2. Having had a low-risk pregnancy, with normal scans, a 25-year-old primigravida
presented with spontaneous labour at 41 weeks and 2 days. Spontaneous rupture of
membranes was confirmed on speculum 14 hours ago. On vaginal examination, cervix
was found to be 5 cm dilated, fully effaced, and well applied to the fetal head, with the
presenting part 2 to the ischial spines. Clear liquor is noted.
a. On auscultation of FHR for 1 minute after a contraction, the fetal heart is heard at a
rate of 150 bpm. What other information do you need?
b. What are the possible causes of the findings?
c. Is CTG monitoring indicated? Why?
Further Reading intrapartum care December 2014

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg190/
Alfirevic Z, Devane D, Gyte G. Continuous resources/guidance-intrapartum-care-
cardiotocography (CTG) as a form care-of-healthy-women-and-their-
of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) babies-during-childbirth-pdf (accessed 1
for fetal assessment during labour. April 2015).
Cochrane Database of Systematic Rev. Schifrin BS, Amsel J, Burdorf G. The accuracy
2013;5:CD006066 of auscultatory detection of fetal cardiac
Gibb D, Arulkumaran S. (eds) Fetal decelerations: a computer simulation. Am J
monitoring in practice. 3rd edition. Obstet Gynecol. 1992;166:566–76.
Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2008. Westgate JA, Wibbens B, Bennet L, Wassink
Lowe V, Harding C. Intermittent auscultation. G, Parer J, Gunn AJ. The intrapartum
In: Arulkumaran S, Tank J, Haththotuwa deceleration in center stage: a physiologic
R, Tank P (eds). Antenatal and intrapartum approach to the interpretation of fetal
fetal surveillance. Orient Black Swan, 2013. heart rate changes in labor. Am J Obstet
National Institute for Health and Clinical Gynecol. 2007;197:e1-236.e11.
Excellence. Clinical guideline number 190
59
Current Scientific Evidence on CTG

Chapter
9 Ana Piñas Carrillo and Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
• CTG has been used since the 1960s. It was introduced as a method of intrapartum
fetal monitoring in high-risk pregnancies to improve neonatal outcomes and to avoid
long-term neurological sequelae. However, the rates of perinatal deaths, hypoxic
encephalopathy and cerebral palsy have remained stable, whereas the rate of operative
deliveries among fetuses monitored using CTG has been continuously increasing.
• CTG interpretation, which has been based on pattern recognition, has a poor positive
predictive value for intrapartum hypoxia and a high false-positive rate. Only about
40–60 per cent fetuses with a CTG classified as abnormal by NICE guidelines have
evidence of metabolic acidosis at birth.
Current Evidence
• The latest Cochrane Review, published in 2013, included 13 trials (>37,000 women).
However, only two of these trials were considered of high quality.
• The use of continuous intrapartum CTG monitoring showed no significant difference
in overall perinatal mortality rate. It showed a 50 per cent reduction in neonatal
seizures; however, this did not translate to any long-term benefit such as a significant
reduction in cerebral palsy.
• Continuous CTG monitoring showed a significant increase in operative deliveries, both
caesarean sections and instrumental deliveries.
• The use of additional tests such as fetal blood sampling did not change the long-term
outcomes but increased the rate of operative deliveries.
• Some individual studies (e.g. Vintzelios et al.) have suggested that the use of CTG may
help improve perinatal outcomes.
Interpretation of Current Evidence

• To measure rare outcomes such as perinatal deaths and cerebral palsy (incidence 2/
1,000), large number of babies need to be recruited to reach scientific conclusions.
• It is estimated that 80,000 women need to be enrolled in a study to achieve the ‘power
of the rest’ to reach conclusions with regard to the reduction in cerebral palsy and

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60 Chapter 9: Current Scientific Evidence on CTG
perinatal deaths. So far, Cochrane Review has analysed only 37,000 women, and only
two of the trials were of high quality.
• Earlier clinical trials on CTG and intermittent auscultation were heterogeneous with
different cut-off values to determine neonatal outcomes and different criteria for
‘pathological’ CTG traces.
• There has been a continuous improvement in both obstetric and neonatal care since the
CTG was introduced into clinical practice. Therefore, the older trials, which showed no
evidence of benefit, may not be applicable in current obstetric practice.
• There were over 25 different clinical guidelines, each employing different classification
systems and indications for continuous, electronic fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring
until the mid-1980s. Therefore, the older clinical trials did not use standardized criteria
for continuous, electronic FHR monitoring.
• The largest randomized controlled trial, ‘The Dublin Trial’, that compared intermittent
auscultation versus continuous, electronic FHR monitoring used fetal scalp blood
sampling on both arms, which is not an accepted clinical practice. In addition, artificial
rupture of membranes was performed at 1 cm dilatation of the cervix to exclude
meconium staining of liquor in the ‘intermittent monitoring group’, which is also not
an accepted clinical practice. Therefore, the findings of the Cochrane Review, which
have been skewed by this largest randomized trial on intermittent auscultation versus
CTG, should be used with caution in 2015.
• It is also very important to appreciate that earlier studies purely used ‘pattern
recognition’ to classify CTGs without considering fetal physiological response to
hypoxic stress. It has been well known that ‘pattern recognition’ is associated with
significant inter-and intra-observer variability. Therefore, the reported increase
in operative interventions may be secondary to overreaction to observed patterns.
Conversely, a lack of understanding of pathophysiology of CTG and features of fetal
decompensation may have resulted in poor perinatal outcomes.
• Therefore, it is hoped that the use of fetal physiology while interpreting CTG traces
and timely and appropriate action when features of fetal decompensation are observed
on the CTG while using intrauterine resuscitation to improve fetal intrauterine
environment may help improve perinatal outcomes while reducing unnecessary
operative interventions.
Future Developments
• There are two large multicentre randomized controlled trials (‘INFANT’ trial and
‘CisPorto’ trial) on electronic FHR monitoring which have been recently completed and
the results are awaited. It is hoped that these will further increase the number of ‘high-
quality’ evidence to appropriate conclusion with regard to the benefits of using CTG
monitoring during labour. Whilst these studies have not yet published in Journals, the
outcomes presented at International Scientific Meetings in 2016 by the authors of these
studies suggest that the use of computerised CTGs did not improve perinatal outcomes.
• The use of fetal physiology (features of central organ oxygenation and of
decompensation), types of intrapartum hypoxia and additional tests of fetal
well-being that determine oxygenation of central organs (e.g. fetal ECG or STAN)
may help improve perinatal outcomes without increasing unnecessary operative
interventions.
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Chapter 9: Current Scientific Evidence on CTG 61
Further Reading 3. Donker D, van Geijn H, Hasman A.

Interobserver variation in the assessment
1. Alfirevic Z, Devane D, Gyte GML. of fetal heart rate recordings. Eur J Obstet
Continuous cardiotocography (CTG) as a Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1993; 52: 21–28.
form of electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) 4. Macdonald D, Grant A, Sheridan-Pereira
for fetal assessment during labor. Cochrane M, Boylan P, Chalmers I. The Dublin
Database Syst Rev. 2013; 5: CD006066. randomized controlled trial of intrapartum
2. Chen HY, Chauhan S, Ananth C, fetal heart rate monitoring. Am J Obstet
Vintzileos A, Abuhamad A. Electronic fetal Gynecol. 1985; 152: 524–39.
heart rate monitoring and its relationship 5. Khangura T, Chandraharan, E. Electronic
to neonatal and infant mortality in the fetal heart rate monitoring: the future.
United States. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2011; Curr Women’s Health Rev. 2013; 9: 169–74.
204: e1–10.
62
Role of Uterine Contractions

Chapter
10 and Intrapartum Reoxygenation

Ratio
Sadia Muhammad and Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
• The frequency, duration and strength of uterine contractions should be considered
whilst interpreting Cardiotocograph.1-3 During labour, uterine contractions compress
spiral arteries and thereby interrupt blood flow to intervillous space leading to a
reduction in placental perfusion.4–6 Intrauterine pressure during labour may reach
85–90 mm Hg, and this is further elevated with maternal pushing. The Ferguson reflex
at full dilatation of cervix further releases oxytocin, which increases the strength,
frequency and duration of contractions affecting further gaseous exchange during
second stage of labour.
• The onset of maternal pushing (active second stage of labour) decreases maternal
oxygenation leading to a reduction in the oxygenation of placental venous sinuses
and thereby further increasing the risk of acidaemia with higher levels of lactic acid
and CO₂. Uterine hyperstimulation secondary to the use of oxytocin infusion during
second stage of labour may further increase the risk of acidaemia as further reduction
in utero-placental perfusion.5
• Most healthy fetuses cope with ongoing stress of labour without sustaining any hypoxic
injury and are vigorous at birth. However, the use of uterotonics for induction or
augmentation of labour leads to an increase in uterine activity. Scientific research
suggests that when uterine contractions occur at intervals of <2 to 3 minutes, there
is an increased likelihood of diminution of blood flow to intervillous space. If this
is repeated, intermittent interruption of fetal oxygenation exceeds a critical level,
then fetal decompensation may ensue and progression from hypoxaemia to hypoxia,
acidaemia to acidosis and even asphyxia and resultant abnormal FHR pattern may
occur.7
• Research comparing the effect of excessive uterine activity on the fetal oxygen
saturation using near–infra red spectrometry concluded that fetal cerebral oxygen
saturation reached the lowest level of 92 seconds after the peak of contraction
with approximately 90 seconds to return to original baseline level.8 In addition, an
incomplete recovery to baseline was observed when uterine contractions occurred
once in every 2 minutes and fetal oxygen saturation decreased incrementally after each
contraction recovering only after oxytocin was stopped.

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63
Chapter 10: Role of Uterine Contractions 63
Figure 10.1 Intrapartum reoxygenation ratio (‘x’ divided by ‘y’).
• A more recent study by Bakker et al.9 concluded that five or more contractions
in 10 minutes during second stage of labour was associated with a higher incidence
of neonatal acidaemia at birth when compared with contractions that were less
frequent.
• A recent pilot study at St George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
has shown that lower intrapartum reoxygenation ratio (<1) was associated with a
‘pathological CTG’ at the time of active second stage of labour (Figure 10.1).
The average reoxygenation ratio in fetuses with Apgar scores <5 was lower
(reoxygenation ratio <1) at both 1 and 10 minutes as compared to fetuses that had
Apgar score >5.10
Key Features (Increased Uterine Activity)

An Acute Increase in Uterine Activity (e.g. Immediately after Increasing
Oxytocin Infusion)
• Prolonged deceleration refers to a sudden drop in baseline heart rate (<110 bpm and
usually <80 bpm). This may be short-lasting (up to 3 minutes) or prolonged (3–10
minutes).
• Baseline bradycardia refers to a baseline FHR <80 bpm persisting >10 minutes
Effects of Continuing Increase in Uterine Activity over Time

• Variable decelerations become more frequent, wider, and deeper –leading to an
‘atypical’ pattern.
• Disappearance of accelerations.
• Late decelerations (utero-placental insufficiency leading to acidosis).
• Baseline tachycardia (catecholamine surge), reduced baseline variability and stepladder
pattern leading to bradycardia.
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64 Chapter 10: Role of Uterine Contractions
Key Pathophysiology behind Patterns Seen on the CTG Trace

• Physiologically, the frequent compression of uterine spiral arterioles without adequate
relaxation time would result in diminished placental perfusion and impaired delivery
of oxygen to the fetus, increasing the likelihood of fetal hypoxia and acidosis.
• Utero-placental insufficiency during labour results in the accumulation of carbon
dioxide and hydrogen ions due to fetal metabolic acidosis that occurs secondary to
anaerobic metabolism in the fetus.
• Increased carbon dioxide and hydrogen ion concentration coupled with decreased
oxygen content of the fetal blood would stimulate the chemoreceptors, resulting in the
activation of the parasympathetic component of the autonomic nervous system leading
to a fall in the fetal heart.
• Chemoreceptor-mediated deceleration takes a longer time to recover because fresh
oxygenated blood from the mother has to ‘wash out’ the accumulated acid and carbon
dioxide after the cessation of a uterine contraction. Therefore, this results in a ‘lag time’
for FHR to recover back to its original baseline.
• As a fetus descends into maternal pelvis during the second stage of labour, it gets
compressed leading to raised fetal intracranial pressure. Stimulation of the dura
mater, which is richly supplied by the parasympathetic nervous system, leads to ‘early’
decelerations in the CTG trace.
• If CTG abnormalities secondary to increased uterine activity are observed, oxytocin
infusion should be immediately stopped (acute prolonged deceleration or loss of
baseline FHR variability) or reduced (recurrent decelerations with stable baseline FHR
and reassuring variability) based on the CTG abnormality.
• Abdominal examination to assess uterine activity (uterine tone, duration and frequency
of contractions) and a vaginal examination to exclude an umbilical cord prolapse, rapid
cervical dilatation, placental abruption and uterine scar dehiscence in case of previous
caesarean sections should be performed. A fetal scalp electrode may be considered in
the absence of ‘acute intrapartum accidents’.
• Maternal blood pressure and pulse rate should be checked to exclude maternal
hypotension.
• Intrauterine resuscitation (changing maternal position, administration of intravenous
fluids –a 500 mL bolus of Hartmann solution) should be attempted.
• In cases of uterine hyperstimulation not resolving with initial measures, tocolysis
(terbutaline 250 mcg subcutaneously) should be considered.
• Assess for recovery of fetal heart and a decrease in uterine activity, and, in the absence
of acute intrapartum accidents, if the ongoing prolonged deceleration on the CTG trace
does not recover by 9 minutes, then delivery should be expedited.
Pearls
• Early recognition of uterine hyperstimulation is crucial as poor utero-placental
perfusion can result in impaired fetal perfusion and subsequent fetal compromise.
• Caution should be exercised while increasing the dose of oxytocin infusion because
the uterine myometrium becomes progressively more sensitive to circulating oxytocin
65
Chapter 10: Role of Uterine Contractions 65
due to the formation of oxytocin receptors on the fundus of the uterus with advancing
labour.
Pitfalls
Pitfalls include failure to appreciate the effect of cumulative ‘uterine activity’ on the fetus and
merely concentrating on the frequency of uterine contractions, as there is no clear informa-
tion regarding cumulative uterine activity in most international guidelines.
• ACOG has defined tachysystole as over six contractions in a 10-minute window
averaged >30 minutes. Based on fetal oxygenation studies, researchers have suggested
to redefine this definition as over six in a 10-minute period with the possibility of
decreased fetal oxygenation due to inadequate relaxation time between contractions.
However, with the use of oxytocin, even three to four contractions may result in fetal
hypoxic-ischaemic injury.
• Failure to take immediate measures to improve utero-placental circulation when
evidence of fetal decompensation (loss of baseline variability or sudden prolonged
deceleration) is observed. In such cases, in addition to stopping oxytocin infusion (or
removal of prostaglandin pessary), tocolytics should be administered to improve utero-
placental circulation.
• Mismanagement in second stage of labour can result in rapid development of fetal
hypoxia, fetal decompensation and hypoxic injury leading to hypoxic-ischaemic
encephalopathy.
• Failure to understand the pathophysiological changes behind features observed
on the CTG trace may result in unnecessary surgical intervention with associated
morbidity.
• Intrapartum fetal death or early neonatal death.
• Fetal hypoxic injury due to uterotonics is very difficult to defend from a medico-legal
point of view as this is iatrogenic and preventable.
Exercises
1. A 25-year-old primigravida at 39 weeks of gestation presented with a history of spon-
taneous onset of labour. On vaginal examination, her cervix was 6 cm dilated with the
presence of grade 2 meconium staining of the amniotic fluid.
Four hours later, her labour was augmented with syntocinon (oxytocin) infusion
as there was no progress of labour, and ongoing uterine contractions were deemed
inadequate.
Two hours after commencement of syntocinon infusion, uterine contractions were
occurring 6 in 10 minutes each lasting 60 seconds on the CTG trace (Figure 10.2).
a. What is your differential diagnosis?
b. Is CTG monitoring indicated?
c. What abnormalities will be noted on the CTG based on the differential diagnosis?
d. What is your management?
e. What will be noticed on the CTG trace if treatment is instituted?
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66 Chapter 10: Role of Uterine Contractions
Figure 10.2
References 6. Brar HS, Platt LD, Devore GR, Horenstein

J, Madearis AL. Qualitative assessment of
1. Rooth G, Huch A, Huch R. Guidelines for maternal and fetal umbilical artery blood
the use of fetal monitoring. Int J Gynecol flow and resistance in laboring patients by
Obstet. 1987; 25: 159–67. Doppler velocimetry. Am J Obstet Gynecol.
1988; Apr; 158(4):952–6.
2. Clinical Effectiveness Support Unit. The
use of electronic fetal monitoring: The 7. American College of Obstetricians and
use of cardiotocography in intrapartum Gynaecologists, American Academy of
fetal surveillance. Evidence-based clinical Pediatrics. Neonatal encephalopathy and
guideline number 8. London: RCOG cerebral palsy: Defining the pathogenesis and
Press; 2001. pathophysiology. Washington, DC: ACOG
and AAP; 2003.
3. ACOG Technical Bulletin. Fetal heart rate
patterns: monitoring, interpretation, and 8. McNamara H, Johnson N. The effect
management. Int J Gynecol Obstet. 1995; of uterine contractions on fetal oxygen
51: 65–74. saturation. Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1995; 102:
644–7.
4. Uterine contraction monitoring.
In: Freeman RK, Garite JY, Nageotte 9. Bakker PCAM, Kurver PHJ, Kuik DJ, et al.
MP, eds. Fetal heart monitoring, 3rd ed. Elevated uterine activity increases the
Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & risk of fetal acidosis at birth. Am J Obstet
Wilkins; 2003, pp. 54–62. Gynecol. 2007; 196: 313e1–313.e6.
5. Fleisher A, Anyaegbunum AA, Schulman 10. Muhammad S, Lowe V, Chandraharan
H, Farmakides G, Randolph G. Uterine E. Correlation between intrapartum
and fetal umbilical artery velocimetry re-oxygenation ratio and observed
during normal labor. Am J Obstet Gynecol. abnormalities on the CTG trace. Singapore
1987; 157: 40–3. J Obstet Gynaec. 2013; 44: 86.
67
Intrapartum Monitoring
Chapter
11 of a Preterm Fetus
Ana Piñas Carrillo and Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
• The CTG patterns reflect the development and maturity of cardiac centres in the central
nervous system and hence differ between preterm and term fetuses.
• Preterm fetuses, because of immaturity and low weight, are more likely to sustain
intrapartum hypoxic injury. The physiological reserves are less than those in a well-
grown term fetus, and in the presence of hypoxia, the compensatory response mounted
by a preterm fetus is limited. The classical features observed on a CTG trace in the case
of a term fetus may not be observed with the same amplitude in a preterm fetus. They
have less capacity to release catecholamines due to smaller adrenal glands, and mild
uterine contractions can easily cause variable decelerations due to a thinner umbilical
cord with less Wharton jelly.
• The NICE guidelines, used in the UK, do not recommend intrapartum monitoring
in preterm fetuses <37 weeks. In fact, none of the guidelines used worldwide (NICE,
FIGO, ACOG) describe patterns of normality and CTG interpretation in fetuses <37
weeks of gestational age.
• Outcome between 24 and 28 weeks depends on maturity at birth and birth weight and
not on the mode of delivery. Intrapartum monitoring of these fetuses can result on the
misinterpretation of uncertain CTG patterns and unnecessary interventions that do not
improve fetal outcome.
• Onset of preterm labour between 24 and 28 weeks is associated with infection in
two-thirds of the cases. This presents an alternative pathway of fetal brain damage
independent of hypoxia, and this inflammation-mediated neurological damage may be
missed by the CTG trace.

• Fetal baseline heart rate is higher at an average of 155 bpm at 24 weeks, and it decreases
as pregnancy progresses, with fetuses having an average baseline heart rate of 140 bpm
at term and 120 bpm at 41–42 weeks.
• The frequency and amplitude of accelerations are reduced before 30 weeks, frequently
lasting for no longer than 10 seconds and with an increase of 10 bpm from baseline.
• The variability may also be reduced due to the immaturity of autonomic nervous
system.

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68 Chapter 11: Intrapartum Monitoring of a Preterm Fetus
• The presence of decelerations not related to contractions has also been described;
typically, these are variable decelerations with low depth and duration. Up to 75 per
cent of preterm fetuses may show intrapartum decelerations.
Key Pathophysiology behind Patterns Seen

on the CTG Trace
• The baseline heart rate is maintained by the interaction of parasympathetic and
sympathetic systems. Before 30 weeks, there is a predominance of the sympathetic
system, and this results in an average higher baseline rate in preterm fetuses. As the
parasympathetic system develops, it counteracts the activity of the sympathetic system,
and the baseline rate decreases progressively from 30 weeks of gestation.
• Similarly, the baseline variability is maintained by the interaction between the
two components of the autonomic nervous system. The lack of maturity of the
parasympathetic system results in an apparent decrease in baseline variability, which
is also influenced by the presence of baseline tachycardia secondary to unopposed
sympathetic activity.
• The presence of decelerations not related to uterine contractions and the higher
incidence of variable decelerations intrapartum (up to 75 per cent) in preterm fetuses
can be explained by a decreased amount of amniotic fluid, reduced Wharton jelly in the
cord and lack of maturity of the fetal myocardium and its glycogen stores.
• CTG monitoring in fetuses <28 weeks is not recommended as no patterns of normality
have been described. Monitoring these fetuses can result in unnecessary interventions
(emergency caesarean section, instrumental delivery) that have been demonstrated not
to improve the outcome of these extremely premature babies but have the potential to
increase maternal morbidity.
• Beyond 32 weeks, survival rates vastly increase and hence fetal monitoring is
recommended considering the special features that these fetuses show.
Caution should be exercised between 28 and 32 weeks of gestation as no data is
available on normality of CTG traces and how long abnormal features such as
atypical or late decelerations could be allowed to persist prior to the onset of fetal
decompensation.
• When interpreting CTG traces of fetuses between 28 and 36 + 6 weeks, it is essential to
know its specific features and fetal physiological response. This can result in different
management than when those same features are observed in a term fetus. For example,
a preterm fetus at 28 weeks of gestation presenting with a baseline heart rate of 155
bpm in the absence of chorioamnionitis or maternal dehydration can be regarded
as normal and will not require further intervention, whereas a fetus at 42 weeks of
gestation presenting with the same baseline has to be closely monitored as it is likely to
be an early sign of chorioamnionitis or an ongoing chronic hypoxia even in the absence
of other clinical signs.
• If oxytocin augmentation is needed (i.e. due to severe sepsis) on a preterm fetus, the
frequency of increase may need to be modified, as these fetuses are more likely to
rapidly develop intrapartum hypoxia due to immaturity of the fetal compensatory
response to stress.
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Chapter 11: Intrapartum Monitoring of a Preterm Fetus 69
• In the presence of tachycardia or reduced baseline variability, one should always

exclude iatrogenic causes such as administration of drugs such as tocolytics
(terbutaline), pethidine, magnesium sulphate and steroids.

• Fetuses 24–28 weeks of gestational age: Continuous monitoring is not recommended. An
isolated higher baseline FHR or reduced variability should not be considered a priori as
abnormal and operative interventions are not indicated for such ‘abnormal changes’ on
the CTG trace that merely reflect physiological immaturity of the autonomic nervous
system. Remember that the physiological reserves to respond to hypoxia are not the
same as in a term fetus, especially in the presence of chorioamnionitis.
• Fetuses 28–32 weeks of gestational age: Fetal monitoring may be considered as
survival and neurological outcome significantly improves during this gestation. Fetal
baseline heart rate and variability are often comparable to those of a term fetus, but
accelerations can still be of a smaller magnitude. Always consider the clinical picture
when interpreting the CTG trace (chorioamnionitis, drugs).
• Fetuses 32–34 weeks: The CTG trace can be classified according to the guidelines used
on term fetuses. However, it is important to remember that the reserves in these fetuses
are less than at term, and hence the ability to withstand a persistent hypoxic insult can
be compromised (i.e. oxytocin augmentation).
Pitfalls
• Monitoring preterm fetuses between 24 and 28 weeks and acting on uncertain CTG
patterns, leading to unnecessary interventions such as emergency caesarean section.
• Managing and interpreting CTG traces beyond 28 weeks as in a term fetus, unaware
of the physiological reserves and the possibility of a growth-restricted fetus that has
impaired response to hypoxic stress.
• Use of additional tests is not recommended for preterm fetuses. Fetal blood sampling
has not been validated in this group, and fetal ECG (ST-Analyser) is unreliable because
of changes in the myocardium composition (increased water content and less glycogen)
and a smaller epicardial–endocardial interphase.
• Unnecessary operative deliveries
• Delivery of an extreme premature infant due to an overreaction to CTG patterns
• Stillbirth
• Neonatal death
Exercises
1. A 24-year-old primigravida presents at 28 weeks with reduced fetal movements. The
CTG trace is shown in Figure 11.1.
a. Classify the CTG applying the ‘8Cs’ approach.
b. What are the specific features different from those of a term fetus?
c. What changes would you expect to see if you repeat the CTG in 4 weeks’ time?
d. How would you assess fetal well-being at this stage of pregnancy?
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70 Chapter 11: Intrapartum Monitoring of a Preterm Fetus
Figure 11.1
Further Reading 3. Gibb D, Arulkumaran S. Fetal Monitoring

in Practice. 3rd edn. Elsevier, 2008.
1. Afors K, Chandraharan E. Use of 4. McDonnell S, Chandraharan E. The
continuous electronic fetal monitoring pathophysiology of CTGs and types of
in a preterm fetus: clinical dilemmas and intrapartum hypoxia. Curr. Women’s Health
recommendations for practice. J Pregnancy. Rev. 2013; 9: 158–168.
2011; 848794.
5. Costeloe KL, Hennessy EM, Haider S,
2. National Institute of Clinical Excellence. Stacey F, Marlow N, Draper ES. Short term
Intrapartum care: care of healthy women outcomes after extreme preterm birth in
and their babies during childbirth. England: comparison of two birth cohorts
NICE clinical guideline CG190. in 1995 and 2006 (the EPICure studies).
December 2014. BMJ 2012; 345: e7976.
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Role of Chorioamnionitis and

Chapter
12 Infection
Jessica Moore and Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
• Chorioamnionitis is a significant cause of non-hypoxic fetal compromise.
• It may occur prior to the onset of labour or during the intrapartum period.
• Clinical chorioamnionitis is characterized by maternal pyrexia (≥38°C) and at least one
of the following parameters: fetal tachycardia, maternal tachycardia, uterine tenderness,
and/or offensive smelling liquor or purulent vaginal discharge.
• Meconium-stained liquor may also be a feature of chorioamnionitis.
• Once clinical chorioamnionitis is evident, it is likely that the infective process is well
established in the fetoplacental unit.
• Histological chorioamnionitis is a presence of inflammatory cell infiltrates in the
membranes of the placenta and in severe cases in the umbilical cord (funisitis).
• The presence of funisitis demonstrates the presence of a fetal systemic inflammatory
response syndrome (FSIRS).
• The term subclinical chorioamnionitis is used when there are no overt signs of clinical
chorioamnionitis but the placental histopathological examination reveals histological
evidence of chorioamnionitis. This may manifest as preterm rupture of membranes or
preterm labour or term pre-labour rupture of membranes (PROM).
• The term ‘subclinical chorioamnionitis’ may also refer to cases where intrauterine
infection is suspected –such as maternal and fetal tachycardia with meconium-stained
liquor. However, the criteria for clinical chorioamnionitis are not met. In addition,
subclinical chorioamnionitis may present as preterm rupture of membranes or preterm
labour.
• Adverse maternal outcomes with chorioamnionitis include postpartum haemorrhage
from uterine atony, sepsis and postpartum endometritis.
• Adverse outcomes for the fetus include stillbirth, premature birth, neonatal infection,
respiratory disease and brain injury and longer term sequelae such as learning
difficulties and cerebral palsy.
• The presence of intrauterine infection is associated with a significantly increased risk of
cerebral palsy. Clinical chorioamnionitis is associated with a fivefold increase in the risk
of cerebral palsy, and histological chorioamnionitis an even higher risk of brain injury.
• Coexistence of intrauterine infection and hypoxia further increases the risk of cerebral
palsy as compared to hypoxia alone (78-vs 5-fold as compared to background risk).

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72 Chapter 12: Role of Chorioamnionitis and Infection
• The relationship between severity of maternal disease in clinical chorioamnionitis and

outcome for the fetus is unpredictable. In some cases, the mother may have significant
signs of sepsis and yet the fetus may be born in good condition. Conversely, a mother
may have no signs of clinical chorioamnionitis and yet the fetus may be born with
significant systemic inflammation.
• It is vital to appreciate that chorioamnionitis is a fetal disease, and therefore,
occurrence of maternal symptoms and signs may indicate an advanced fetal infection
with poor neonatal outcome.
• Emerging scientific evidence suggests that inflammatory mediators per se can cause
fetal neurological damage due to poor development of fetal blood–brain barrier
without the presence of organisms within the amniotic cavity.
Risk factors and associations with chorioamnionitis include:
• Premature rupture of membranes and labour. It is likely that subclinical

chorioamnionitis plays a role in the pathophysiology of premature rupture of
membranes. However, once this occurs, there is an increased risk of clinical
chorioamnionitis due to ascending infection.
• Prolonged rupture of membranes.
• Group B streptococcal colonization in the mother.
Key Pathophysiology of Infection and CTG

• The understanding of CTG changes in the presence of fetal infection is poor.
Chorioamnionitis may lead to FSIRS.
• It is possible that fetal inflammatory response may cause neurological injury
through different mechanisms to those caused by hypoxia although there may be
common synergetic pathways. Although it is possible that with infection there is no
protective upregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines which occurs in fetal hypoxic
ischaemia.
• The possible mechanisms of fetal brain injury include a reduction in oxygen transfer
across inflamed fetal membranes or a reduction in fetal cardiac output secondary to
myocardial dysfunction causing a reduction in cerebral blood flow.
• Severe fetal infection may result in a metabolic acidosis although often the cord pH
may be normal despite the fetus being born in poor condition.
• Fetal infection in the presence of ongoing hypoxic stress will result in a worse outcome
for the fetus. This is because inflammatory mediators lower the threshold at which
hypoxia can cause fetal neurological damage.

• It must be remembered that CTG monitoring is a test for fetal hypoxia and that the role
of CTG in chorioamnionitis is less clear.
• There is a lack of evidence that specific features on the CTG trace can identify cases of
clinical or subclinical chorioamnionitis. However, understanding the pathophysiology
of hypoxia and FSIRS may help in recognizing ongoing clinical or subclinical
chorioamnionitis based on the features observed on the CTG trace.
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Chapter 12: Role of Chorioamnionitis and Infection 73
Figure 12.1 CTG features associated with chorioamnionitis at term. Note the absence of cycling and
accelerations with the baseline FHR at or above the upper limit of normal.
• It is probably important to consider the features of a term CTG separately to those in a

preterm CTG.
• Studies that have looked at the role of CTG in the identification of systemic fetal
infection have often applied the definitions used for hypoxia, and it is possible that
intra-amniotic infection exerts an effect on the fetus through different pathways. This
may explain why many of the studies evaluating the CTG in fetal infection have not
been conclusive.
• CTG features seen in the presence of intrauterine infection include fetal tachycardia,
reduced variability, lack of accelerations, presence of decelerations and lack of cycling
(Figure 12.1), but none of these features have been seen consistently.
• ‘Saltatory pattern’ (variability >25 bpm) may be seen in maternal pyrexia due to the
dysregulation of fetal thermoregulatory centre.
• One study estimated that fetal tachycardia at term was associated with an increased
risk of systemic fetal inflammation of 9 times the odds of a term fetus with no
tachycardia. There is also evidence that fetal tachycardia increases the incidence of
cerebral palsy.
• If fetal tachycardia and reduced variability are seen without preceding or on-going
decelerations, then consideration should be given to infection as the primary cause.
This is because fetal tachycardia will be almost always preceded by decelerations in
cases of intrapartum hypoxia.
• It is important to compare FHR with any previously recorded FHR as a significant rise
in FHR should prompt the question of infection.
• Ongoing baseline fetal tachycardia on admission or in early labour in a term fetus
may be suggestive of underlying subclinical chorioamnionitis. This should prompt a
clinician to look for other signs of maternal inflammatory response. In the absence
of a diagnosis of clinical chorioamnionitis, the patient should be observed closely for
evolving signs (maternal tachycardia, maternal pyrexia, meconium staining of amniotic
fluid or an offensive vaginal discharge).
• Other causes of fetal tachycardia such as maternal hypotension, dehydration, chronic
hypoxia and medications (e.g. salbutamol) should be excluded.
74
Figure 12.2. Onset of atypical variable decelerations on the background of fetal tachycardia secondary
to clinical or subclinical chorioamnionitis. Such a combination of hypoxia and infection can potentiate fetal
neurological injury.
• If clinical chorioamnionitis is diagnosed, then a full septic screening of the mother
should be undertaken along with the administration of broad-spectrum intravenous
antibiotics and antipyretics.
• One should not rely on the CTG as a test of fetal well-being when clinical
chorioamnionitis is present. However, evidence of coexisting intrapartum hypoxia
(i.e. presence of repetitive atypical variable or late decelerations) is a bad prognostic
indicator.
• Consider expediting delivery. It is difficult to give exact timing for when delivery
should occur. However, if subclinical chorioamnionitis is suspected, care should be
taken to avoid further hypoxic stress on the fetus due to the synergistic damaging effect
of hypoxia and infection on the fetal brain.
• If a diagnosis of clinical chorioamnionitis is made prior to delivery, consideration
should be given to delivery by caesarean section to avoid any additional hypoxic stress
from labour (e.g. primigravida with cervical dilatation <6 cm, or if there is evidence of
failure to progress requiring oxytocin augmentation).
• Avoidance of additional hypoxic stress (e.g. repetitive cord compression or increased
uterine activity leading to reduced utero-placental oxygenation) is paramount
(Figure 12.2). This means oxytocin should be used with great caution, and it is prudent
to avoid a prolonged labour or a complicated delivery.
• If labour is progressing quickly and vaginal delivery is anticipated within the next 3–4
hours, it is appropriate to continue with labour if the CTG trace is entirely normal
suggestive of no ongoing hypoxic stress.
• Partogram should be carefully scrutinized to monitor the progress in labour closely as
well as any signs of deterioration in the condition of mother or fetus.
• Consider the mode of delivery. There is a lack of evidence that caesarean section at
the time of diagnosis of clinical chorioamnionitis will improve the neonatal outcome.
However, there is a significant association between duration of chorioamnionitis and 5-
minute Apgar score <3 and mechanical ventilation within 24 hours.
• Ensure a neonatologist is present at delivery.
75
• Take umbilical cord gases in confirmed or suspected clinical chorioamnionitis.

• The placenta should have a swab taken for microscopy and culture and the placenta
should be sent for histopathological examination.

• Consider infection as a cause for fetal tachycardia especially in the absence of
decelerations and look for other signs to confirm this.
• Consider infection as a cause of loss of cycling in the CTG suggestive of depression of
the central nervous system.
• Consider delivery by caesarean section especially if vaginal delivery is not imminent
(i.e. if cervix <6 cm in a primigravida, or if there is evidence of failure to progress).
• Remember to look at the whole clinical picture when managing a labour with suspected
infection.
• Remember that infection will cause morbidity and mortality in mother and fetus.
• The correlation between severity of maternal disease and neonatal outcome is
not clear.
• Avoid coexisting intrapartum hypoxia as it will have a synergistic effect with
infection.
• Consider other causes of maternal pyrexia such as use of epidural medications and
drugs. However, be aware that pyrexia of any cause is associated with an increased
incidence of neonatal seizures.
• Meconium may be associated with ongoing clinical and subclinical chorioamnionitis
as it may indicate ongoing fetal stress secondary to infection. Conversely, meconium
may reduce the antibacterial activity of the amniotic fluid and may predispose to
chorioamnionitis. Therefore, presence of meconium with ongoing fetal tachycardia is
an ominous sign and delivery should be expedited.
Pitfalls
• A failure to consider infection as a cause of abnormal CTG which does not fit into a
hypoxic pattern (i.e. absence of repetitive decelerations).
• A failure to appreciate that even mild hypoxia in the context of clinical
chorioamnionitis will have worse prognosis.
• Failure to incorporate the whole clinical picture, e.g., primparous, early labour, thick
meconium, pyrexia and fetal tachycardia may lead to poor outcomes and these cases
are likely to benefit from an early delivery by a caesarean section.
• Performing additional tests of fetal well-being such as fetal scalp blood sampling (FBS),
fetal scalp lactate or fetal ECG (ST-Analyser). None of these tests designed to diagnose
intrapartum hypoxia are reliable in fetal infection.
• Intrapartum fetal death
• Early neonatal death
• Severe neonatal sepsis
• Long-term sequelae such as learning difficulties and cerebral palsy
76
Figure 12.3
Exercises
1. A primigravida was admitted for induction of labour at 41 weeks + 3 days of gestation.
She had no antenatal risk factors. CTG trace was commenced (Figure 12.3).
a. How would you classify the CTG trace?
b. What is your management plan?
A plan was made for expectant management and the maternal pulse rate was noted to
be 108 bpm.
c. What is the likely diagnosis?
d. What is your management plan?
f. What are the signs and symptoms you would be anticipating in this case?
A plan was made to continue with labour. Three hours later, maternal temperature was
recorded as 38.2°C. Paracetamol and intravenous antibiotics were administered. Six
hours later, cervix was found to be 4 cm dilated and artificial rupture of membranes was
carried out and meconium staining of amniotic fluid was noted.
g. What is your diagnosis?
h. What is your management plan and why?
Further Reading systemic fetal inflammation. J Reprod Med.

2007; 52: 762–768.
1. Aina-Mumuney AJ, Althaus JE, Henderson 2. Badawi N, Kurinczuk JJ, Keogh JM, et
JL, et al. Intrapartum electronic fetal al. Intrapartum risk factors for newborn
monitoring and the identification of encephalopathy: the Western Australian
77
case-control study. BMJ. 1998; 317: rate patterns and subsequent cerebral
1554–1558. palsy in pregnancies with intrauterine
3. Peebles DM, Wyatt JS. Synergy between bacterial infection. Am J Perinatol. 2005;
antenatal exposure to infection and 22: 181–187.
intrapartum events in causation of 6. Tita A, Andrews W. Diagnosis and
perinatal brain injury at term. BJOG. 2002; management of clinical chorioamnionitis.
109: 737–739. Clin Perinatol. 2010; 37: 339–354.
4. Rouse JR, Landon M, Leveno KJ. The 7. Ugwumadu A. Infection and fetal
maternal-fetal units caesarean registry: neurological injury. Curr Opin Obstet
chorioamnionitis at term and its duration– Gynaecol. 2006; 18: 106–111.
relationship outcomes. Am J Obstet 8. Wu YW, Escobar GJ, Grether JK.
Gynaecol. 2004; 191: 211–2116. Chorioamnionitis and cerebral palsy in
5. Sameshima H, Ikenoue T, Ikeda T, et al. term and near term infants. JAMA. 2003;
Association of non-reassuring fetal heart 290: 2677–2684.
78
Meconium
Chapter
13 Why Is It Harmful?
Nirmala Chandrasekaran and Leonie Penna
Key Facts
Causes of meconium
Physiological: As the fetal gut reaches maturity, peristaltic contractions of the bowel occur
spontaneously as part of normal development. Forty-four per cent of fetuses beyond 42
weeks of gestation will have passed meconium. The majority of cases of meconium-stained
amniotic fluid (MSAF) at term are physiological. Physiological meconium is always light
as there should be a normal volume of amniotic fluid, and as it is rare for meconium to be
passed by the fetus before 37 weeks, gestation will usually be beyond 37 weeks with even
greater reassurance offered by postterm gestations. There should be no risk factors for
placental insufficiency, intrapartum hypoxia or infection in order to consider meconium
as physiological. The parasympathetic nervous system increases overall gut motility, and
thus meconium can be passed during labour as a result of head compression via a vagally
mediated response. This response is uncommon during the first stage of labour and is most
commonly seen in the passage of meconium during the late second stage in healthy infants
born with no evidence of infection or acidosis.
Fetal hypoxia: Reduction in the amount of oxygen available to a fetus in labour results in
an adrenergic response with a rising fetal heart rate (FHR) and redistribution of blood to
essential organs with a reduction in blood flow to nonessential organs including the bowel.
This and a direct vagal effect can result in peristaltic bowel contractions and relaxation of the
anal sphincter resulting in the passage of meconium. This effect is most commonly seen in
a gradually developing hypoxia and may not occur in chronic long-standing hypoxia or in
acute severe hypoxia (such as massive abruption).
Maternal obstetric cholestasis: MSAF is more common in woman with a diagnosis of obstet-
ric cholestasis especially where bile acids are >40 micromoles per litre with rates of 25 per
cent reported in term and 18 per cent in preterm labour.
Fetal bowel abnormality: Gastroschisis increases the likelihood of MSAF during labour
(including preterm). The reason for this effect is not certain but is possibly due to the direct
contact of the bowel with the amniotic fluid stimulating peristaltic contractions.
Listeriosis: Fetal listeria infection is reported to cause MSAF in preterm labour but is very rare
and unlikely to be the cause of MSAF. Maternal blood cultures should be taken for listeria,
but other infective pathologies or hypoxia are more common and should be considered.
78
79
Chapter 13: Meconium: Why Is It Harmful? 79
Fetal infection: Meconium increases the risk of chorioamnionitis as it inhibits neutrophil

phagocytosis and as a result enhances bacterial growth.
• CTG monitoring must always be considered in labours complicated by meconium-
stained liquor because of its association with hypoxia and infection. However, the fact
that most meconium is physiological has resulted in conflicts regarding the level of
intervention appropriate in the low-risk pregnancy.
• The woman should be advised that in the majority of cases meconium represents a
physiological response in the maturing fetus but that in a small number of cases it
may be an indicator of a fetal problem and that it is important to detect any falling
oxygen levels as this may result in fetuses gasping with the effect of meconium entering
their lungs causing meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS). The importance of fetal
monitoring in identifying a fetus that is becoming stressed by labour should be
explained with reassurance that this monitoring is effective.
• For thin meconium in gestations >37 weeks with no risk factors for placental
insufficiency or infection, continuous electronic fetal monitoring (CEFM) is not
deemed mandatory by some national guidelines. However, intermittent auscultation
(IA) and maternal observations for signs of sepsis must be performed to the highest
standard with immediate conversion to CEFM if any new risk factor or pyrexia
develops or there are concerns about the quality or findings of IA (e.g. a progressive rise
in baseline FHR).
• In any type of meconium with any risk factor for infection or development of
intrauterine hypoxia, CEFM should be recommended and commenced for the duration
of labour. CEFM should also be recommended for thin MSAF in women with previous
clear liquor who develop meconium as a new finding or if labour becomes prolonged.
• If fetal heart monitoring is normal, then no specific action is required regardless of
the type of meconium or the presence of signs of infection. With thick meconium
and possible infection, a careful review of labour progress is prudent, with delivery
considered if the interval until spontaneous delivery is likely to take many hours.
• In order to ensure that management is optimized, it is important to consider the
underlying pathophysiology that may be indicated by the trace. Table 13.1 summarizes
a suggested plan of management for CEFM in the presence of meconium.
• Thin meconium does not alter the way CEFM should be interpreted, as in the majority
of cases it will be of physiological aetiology. The possibility of infection should be
considered and if there is any possibility of chorioamnionitis, then monitoring should
be managed as if meconium were heavy.
• CEFM showing a suspicious type pattern usually indicates a fetus that is under stress,
either a mechanical one (cord compression decelerations) or a possible infection (an
uncomplicated tachycardia) with risk of developing hypoxia. Urgent clinical review
with interventions to improve the fetal condition is implemented (intravenous fluids
and optimization of maternal position). The interplay of sepsis, meconium and hypoxia
must be considered along with the likelihood that fetal stress can be effectively reduced
and the expected interval until spontaneous delivery. Care must be individualized, but
a decision to recommend immediate delivery by C-section should be considered in
cases with abnormal monitoring and possible sepsis where spontaneous delivery (or
80
80 Chapter 13: Meconium: Why Is It Harmful?
Table 13.1 Suggested plan of management for CEFM in the presence of meconium
Quantification of meconium
Light Heavy
Is there possible infection (fetal tachycardia, maternal tachycardia or maternal pyrexia?

No Yes No Yes
CTG assessment
Normal CTG Offer IA if low risk Recommend Recommend CEFM, intravenous
or recommend CEFM, intravenous CEFM and careful antibiotics,
CEFM if risk factors antibiotics, careful surveillance for consider
observation of CTG signs of infection probability
and timing of
spontaneous
delivery
Suspicious CTG Recommend Recommend Recommend CEFM, intravenous
CEFM, intrauterine CEFM, intravenous CEFM, reconsider antibiotics, assisted
resuscitation antibiotics risk of infection delivery unless
measures and and delivery if spontaneous
observe carefully vaginal birth is not delivery imminent
imminent
Abnormal CTG Recommend Recommend Recommend CEFM, intravenous
CEFM, intrauterine CEFM, intravenous CEFM, or delivery antibiotics,
resuscitation antibiotics delivery depending on urgent assisted
if vaginal delivery is the probability delivery by C-
not imminent of spontaneous section or assisted
delivery, reconsider vaginal delivery
risk of infection unless delivery
immediately
imminent
Caution: Additional tests of fetal well-being such as fetal scalp blood sampling (FBS) and fetal ECG (ST-Analyser)
are not useful in predicting MAS. In addition, scientific evidence suggests that FBS can provide a false-positive
result as meconium contains bile acids which alter the pH of fetal scalp sample due to contamination.
assisted vaginal delivery) is not imminent. If the decision is made to continue, then
continuous FHR monitoring should be performed as fetal hypoxia may develop faster
in the presence of meconium. Where possible, clinical decisions should be made to
avoid deterioration of such a trace to become pathological. A true reduction in baseline
variability (<5 bpm) or development of saltatory pattern on a previously ‘suspicious’
CTG trace would be particularly ominous in the circumstance and should be managed
without delay as a pathological trace.
• CEFM showing a pathological type pattern with a much greater risk that the fetus
has significant hypoxia (usually a complicated baseline tachycardia but occasionally
reduced variability on an admission CTG of a woman in labour with thick meconium)
requires delivery to be expedited by C-section or assisted vaginal delivery. A senior
clinician should be involved in the decision-making process with clear documentation
of the thinking behind the decision. It is important to appreciate that additional tests
of fetal well-being such as FBS and fetal ECG (ST-Analyser or STAN) are not useful
in predicting MAS. FBS may give a false-positive result as the presence of bile acids in
meconium may reduce the pH of scalp blood sample.
• Increased baseline FHR and presence of repeated atypical or prolonged decelerations
indicative of ongoing hypoxia may increase the likelihood of MAS.
81
Chapter 13: Meconium: Why Is It Harmful? 81
• In cases of MSAF with a gestation <37 weeks, immediate CEFM and urgent review by a
senior obstetrician to formulate a plan for delivery are recommended. Any abnormality
in FHR monitoring or evidence of sepsis requires consideration of expediting delivery
by C-section unless vaginal delivery is imminent. FBS is not recommended as a lack
of fetal reserve in the premature fetus and an increased likelihood of infection in
combination with meconium is a situation when the rate of development of hypoxia is
unpredictable.
Common Pitfalls
• Failure to recommend monitoring in women with risk factors for hypoxia or infection
presenting with MSAF.
• UK guidelines for the interpretation of CEFM do not make specific recommendation
about how interpretation should be altered by the finding of significant meconium.
• Not considering infection risks when formulating a management plan for a labour
complicated by meconium.
• Delaying delivery in the presence of developing hypoxia with the risk of fetal gasping
in utero.
Consequences of Meconium
• Cerebral palsy is twice as common in term infants with MSAF than in infants with clear
fluid. In preterm labour, it is an even higher risk factor for future neurologic disorder
with one study showing that 41 per cent of premature infants born with MSAF develop
cerebral palsy, compared to 10 per cent of preterm infants with clear amniotic fluid.
• Neonatal MAS is the result of aspiration of acidic meconium causing chemical
pneumonitis with cytokine activation and development of persistent pulmonary
hypertension. Any developing hypoxia increases the risk of fetal gasping in utero and
this increases the risk of MAS.
Further Reading National Institute for Health and Care

Excellence. Intrapartum care: care of
Hofmeyr GJ, Xu H, Eke AC. Amnioinfusion healthy women and their babies during
for meconium-stained liquor in labour. childbirth. Clinical guideline 109. 2014.
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014; 1. Siriwachirachai T, Sangkomkamhang US,
National Institute for Health and Care Lumbiganon P, Laopaiboon M. Antibiotics
Excellence. Intrapartum care: care of for meconium stained amniotic fluid
healthy women and their babies during in labour for preventing maternal and
childbirth. Clinical guideline 55. 2007. neonatal infection. Cochrane Database Syst
Rev. 2014; 11.
82
Intrapartum Bleeding
Chapter
14 Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
• Intrapartum vaginal bleeding may be benign –damage to maternal veins during
cervical dilatation, or rupture of membranes –or may indicate serious underlying
pathology.
• Serious causes include rupture of fetal blood vessels traversing the membranes below
the presenting part (vasa previa), placental abruption, bleeding from a low-lying
placenta (placenta previa), uterine rupture or, rarely, bleeding from local lesions such as
polyps, tumours, or genital tract trauma.

• Maternal causes of intrapartum bleeding often do not cause any change on the CTG
trace, unless it is very severe and is accompanied by maternal hypotension (e.g.
placenta previa). If this is a case, an acute prolonged deceleration will be noted on the
CTG trace.
• Bleeding from vasa previa or a sudden fetomaternal haemorrhage may
result in an ‘atypical sinusoidal pattern’ also called ‘Poole shark teeth pattern’
(Figure 14.1).
• Premature separation of placenta may result in recurrent ‘late decelerations’
(Figure 14.2) in early stages but may result in an acute prolonged deceleration
culminating in a terminal bradycardia (see Chapter 2). A total loss of baseline fetal
heart rate (FHR) variability may also be noted (Figure 14.2).
• Uterine rupture may present with recurrent variable or late decelerations or as an acute
prolonged deceleration (see Chapter 15).

• Atypical sinusoidal pattern is believed to occur secondary to acute fetal hypotension
and resultant acute hypoxia to the central nervous system that causes instability of the
autonomic nervous system (sympathetic and parasympathetic).
• Recurrent ‘late decelerations’ (Figure 14.2) in early stages of abruption is secondary
to utero-placental insufficiency and metabolic acidosis resulting in the stimulation of
chemoreceptors. Acute prolonged deceleration culminating in a terminal bradycardia is

82
83
Chapter 14: Intrapartum Bleeding 83
Figure 14.1
Figure 14.2. Note the total loss of baseline fetal heart rate variability within the first 3 minutes of a prolonged
deceleration
secondary to myocardial decompensation resulting from hypoxia and acidosis due to a

total disruption of the fetal oxygen supply (see Chapter 2). A sudden reduction in fetal
blood volume and resultant lack of oxygen supply to the brain results in a total loss of
baseline FHR variability (Figure 14.2).
• Recurrent variable decelerations may occur secondary to prolapsed umbilical
cord through the ruptured uterine scar, and late decelerations occur secondary to
progressive placental separation leading to progressive fetal hypoxia and acidosis and
resultant ‘chemoreceptor stimulation’ (Figure 14.3). An acute prolonged deceleration
may occur secondary to expulsion of the fetus into the peritoneal cavity that results in a
total separation of the placenta (see Chapter 15).
84
84 Chapter 14: Intrapartum Bleeding
Figure 14.3 Note the presence of decelerations prior to the onset of the prolonged deceleration.
• In cases of fetomaternal haemorrhage or placental abruption presenting with CTG
changes suggestive of ongoing fetal hypoxia or hypotension, urgent delivery should
be accomplished by the quickest and safest approach. If the cervix is fully dilated with
presenting part at or below the ischial spines, an immediate operative vaginal delivery
is recommended. If this is not possible, then an immediate (‘grade 1’) caesarean section
should be performed.
• The neonatal team should be informed as the neonate may be hypoxic and hypotensive
at birth requiring intensive neonatal resuscitation as well as intravenous fluids and
blood transfusion to correct ongoing hypovolaemia.
• In cases of severe abruption with maternal hypotension and coagulopathy, maternal
resuscitation should take priority while making preparations for urgent delivery.
Maternal oxygen administration used in cases of maternal collapse may also have a
beneficial effect on the fetus.

• Recognize atypical sinusoidal pattern and/or acute prolonged deceleration when
there is ongoing fetomaternal bleeding secondary to a vasa previa (Figure 14.3) or a
concealed abruption.
• Remember that baseline FHR variability will be rapidly reduced within first 3 minutes
of a prolonged deceleration due to ongoing fetal hypotension and resultant sudden
reduction in fetal cerebral blood flow.
• Seek immediate senior obstetric and midwifery input and ensure effective
multidisciplinary communication and team working to accomplish immediate
delivery.
Pitfalls
• ‘3, 6, 9, 12, 15’ rule for a prolonged deceleration is not applicable in this case.
• Persists with traumatic operative vaginal delivery despite ongoing features on the CTG
suggestive of acute hypoxia.
85
Chapter 14: Intrapartum Bleeding 85
Figure 14.4 Note the ruptured vasa praevia in

a case with an atypical sinusoidal pattern with a
‘jagged edge’ resembling ‘Poole Shark Teeth’.
• Attempting additional tests of fetal well-being such as fetal ECG (STAN), fetal scalp
pH or lactate when there is clear evidence of hypoxia to the central organs on the
CTG trace.
• Severe hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE)
• Long-term fetal neurological sequelae secondary to delayed treatment of
hypotension
Exercise
1. A 36-year-old primigravida presented with a history of painless vaginal bleeding with
reduced fetal movements at 40 weeks of gestation. On examination, the abdomen was
soft and nontender and FHR was 160 bpm. On speculum examination, fresh vaginal
bleeding was noted.
c. What abnormalities on the CTG would be expected based on your differential
diagnosis?
d. CTG was commenced and the following features were noted (Figure 14.5). What is
your diagnosis?
e. What is your management?
86
86 Chapter 14: Intrapartum Bleeding
Figure 14.5
Further Reading and significance of FHR ‘overshoots’. Curr.

Women’s Health Revs. 2013; 9: 175–82.
1. Chandraharan E, Arulkumaran S. 4. Jensen A, Hanson MA. Circulatory
Prevention of birth asphyxia: responding responses to acute asphyxia in intact and
appropriately to cardiotocograph (CTG) chemodenervated fetal sheep near term.
traces. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. Reprod Fertil Dev. 1995; 7: 1351–9.
2007; 21(4): 609–24.
5. Graca LM, Cardoso CG, Calhaz-Jorge
2. Gibb D, Arulkumaran S (Eds). Fetal C. An approach to interpretation and
monitoring in practice. Elsevier. 2008. classification of sinusoidal fetal heart rate
3. Yanamandra N, Chandraharan E. Saltatory patterns. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.
and sinusoidal fetal heart rate patterns 1988; 27: 203–12.
87
Labour with a Uterine Scar

Chapter
15 The Role of CTG
Key Facts
• Uterine scar dehiscence refers to the disruption of uterine myometrium but with
an intact serosa (peritoneal covering), whereas uterine rupture refers to the total
disruption of the entire uterine wall, including the serosa.
• The increasing rate of caesarean sections in modern obstetric practice is responsible for
the rise in the number of women labouring with a previous uterine scar.
• Labour in the presence of a uterine scar has a risk of uterine rupture of 0.5 per cent in
spontaneous labour, 0.8 per cent with the use of oxytocin for augmentation of labour
and 2.4 per cent with the use of prostaglandins for induction of labour.
• The dehiscence/rupture of the uterus compromises the placental circulation, and this
results in fetal heart rate (FHR) changes, frequently one of the first signs of uterine
rupture. Continuous intrapartum fetal monitoring is essential in order to diagnose the
onset of FHR abnormalities so as to institute timely delivery to avoid maternal and fetal
complications.
• The classical signs of uterine rupture such as vaginal bleeding, scar or abdominal pain,
receding presenting part, changes in the shape of the uterus and palpation of fetal parts
are not always present and often unreliable.

• The CTG features observed depend on the type of dehiscence/rupture.
• Uterine rupture can result in a prolonged deceleration lasting >3 minutes. The specific
features that should elicit a high index of suspicion of uterine rupture include a
total loss of variability within the first 3 minutes of deceleration, FHR dropping >60
bpm from the initial baseline and/or baseline FHR dropping <80 bpm. This may be
associated with a sustained contraction (uterine hypertonus) or a sudden cessation of
uterine activity recorded on the ‘toco’ component of the CTG.
• Repetitive variable or late decelerations and reduced variability may be observed
preceding a final prolonged deceleration.
• Uterine rupture is frequently preceded by tachysystole (presence of more than five
contractions in 10 minutes without CTG changes) or hyperstimulation (increased
frequency, duration or tone of uterine contractions associated with changes on the
CTG trace).

87
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88 Chapter 15: Labour with a Uterine Scar

• Recurrent variable decelerations may occur secondary to prolapsed loop of umbilical
cord through the ruptured uterine scar into the peritoneal cavity, and its resultant
compression and late decelerations occur secondary to progressive placental separation
leading to progressive fetal hypoxia and acidosis and resultant ‘chemoreceptor
stimulation’.
• An acute prolonged deceleration may occur secondary to the expulsion of the fetus into
the peritoneal cavity that results in a total separation of the placenta. If this persists for
>10 minutes, it is termed terminal bradycardia.
• In cases of uterine rupture presenting with acute hypoxia shown on the CTG trace by a
prolonged deceleration, immediate laparotomy to avoid fetal hypoxic-ischaemic injury
and delivery within 10–15 minutes (category 1 caesarean section) is indicated in this
situation. If delivery is imminent, one should consider immediate operative vaginal
delivery followed by a laparotomy for repair to avoid fetal hypoxic ischaemic injury.
• The neonatal team should be informed of the suspicion of uterine rupture as it is
likely that the fetus will be born in poor condition and would need intensive neonatal
resuscitation, especially in cases of complete uterine rupture when the fetus is found
extruded in the abdominal cavity.
• In women labouring with a previous uterine scar, the presence of repetitive variable
and late decelerations and reduced variability should arouse a high index of suspicion
of uterine dehiscence/rupture, and this needs to be excluded before continuing with
labour.
• The use of transabdominal ultrasound scan to detect free fluid within the abdominal
cavity or disruption of the myometrium with bulging membranes may be useful in
cases where there is a strong clinical suspicion but with no classical symptoms and
signs of uterine rupture and when the changes observed on the CTG are less marked or
just ‘suspicious’.
• In the presence of uterine tachysystole in a patient with a previous uterine scar,
clinicians should consider tocolysis even in the absence of FHR changes to avoid the
risk of uterine rupture.

• Baseline FHR variability will be rapidly reduced within the first 3 minutes of a
prolonged deceleration due to ongoing fetal hypotension and resultant sudden
reduction in fetal cerebral blood flow.
• Seek immediate senior obstetric and midwifery input and ensure effective
multidisciplinary communication and team working to accomplish immediate
delivery.
• If the CTG trace before the prolonged deceleration was normal, scientific evidence
suggests that if the delivery is accomplished within 18 minutes, fetal neurological
injury is unlikely. However, if there are already ongoing decelerations prior to
89
Chapter 15: Labour with a Uterine Scar 89
the onset of acute prolonged deceleration, fetal neurological injury may ensue after 10
minutes.
Pitfalls
• ‘3, 6, 9, 12, 15’ rule for a prolonged deceleration is not applicable in this case.
Immediate delivery is indicated.
• Relying on vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain to diagnose uterine rupture in the
presence of a suspicious trace should be avoided. These symptoms are commonly
absent; looking at the clinical picture (use of oxytocin and/or prostaglandins,
hyperstimulation, sustained contraction) together with the CTG features should arouse
a suspicion of uterine rupture/dehiscence.
• Attempting additional tests of fetal well-being such as fetal ECG (STAN), fetal scalp
pH or lactate when there is clear evidence of hypoxia to the central organs on the CTG
trace should be avoided as it would merely delay delivery and worsen maternal and
fetal complications.
• Severe hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy
• Long-term fetal neurological sequelae secondary to delayed treatment of
hypotension
• Maternal collapse, need for multiple blood transfusion and, rarely, maternal
death
Exercise
1. A 36-year-old gravida 2 para 1 with a previous caesarean section for failure to progress
in labour was admitted with spontaneous onset of labour. Cervix was 6 cm dilated
and the presenting part was at 0 station and the CTG trace was classified as normal.
Oxytocin was commenced at 23:00 hours for failure to progress in labour as her cervix
had remained 6 cm 2 hours after artificial rupture of membranes.
a. Classify the CTG trace (using the ‘8C’ format).
b. What are effects of oxytocin on myometrial contractions and what changes would
you observe on the CTG trace?
c. Consider the CTG trace from 02:58 hours.
1. What is the type of hypoxia?
2. What are the differential diagnoses?
3. What immediate actions would you take?
d. What is the likelihood of the observed CTG change to return back to normal in
this case?
e. What would you expect to see in the umbilical cord gases if delivery was accom-
plished within 20 minutes of the onset of this acute, prolonged decelerations?
90
90 Chapter 15: Labour with a Uterine Scar
Figure 15.1
Figure 15.2
Further Reading 3. Chandraharan E. Rational approach to

electronic fetal monitoring during labour
1. Gibb D, Arulkumaran S. Fetal in ‘all’ resource settings. Sri Lanka J Obstet
Monitoring in Practice. 3rd edn. Gynaecol. 2010; 32: 77–84.
Elsevier, 2008. 4. McDonnell S, Chandraharan E. The
2. Chandraharan E, Arulkumaran S. Obstetric pathophysiology of CTGs and types of
and Intrapartum Emergencies. A Practical intrapartum hypoxia. Curr Women’s Health
Guide to Management. Cambridge, 2012. Revs. 2013; 9: 158–168.
91
Impact of Maternal Environment

Chapter
16 on Fetal Heart Rate
Ayona Wijemanne and Edwin Chandraharan
Introduction
The fetoplacental unit is a unique interface where oxygen is transferred to the fetus in
exchange for carbon dioxide and water. Oxygen transfer is dependent upon adequate
maternal oxygenation, uterine blood supply, placental transfer and integrity of the umbili-
cal cord. Disruptions to any of these can result in fetal hypoxia and a subsequent change
in fetal heart pattern on the CTG trace. Chemicals and inflammatory markers associated
with maternal conditions may also cross the placenta and cause changes in fetal heart pat-
terns. It is therefore important to consider the maternal environment when interpreting a
cardiotocograph (CTH).
Key Facts
Maternal conditions or factors that may affect fetal heart patterns can be broadly categorized
into the following groups:
Conditions Causing Maternal Metabolic Acidosis

• Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
• Uraemic acidosis secondary to renal failure
• Starvation ketoacidosis
• Alcoholic ketoacidosis
Conditions Causing Chronic Maternal Hypoxia

• Maternal cardiovascular disease
○○ Acquired/congenital cyanotic heart disease
○○ Cardiac failure
○○ Pulmonary hypertension
• Chronic pulmonary disease
○○ Cystic fibrosis
• Severe maternal anaemia

91
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92 Chapter 16: Maternal Environment and Fetal Heart Rate
Conditions Reducing Placental Perfusion

This may lead to chronic hypoxia, as with:
• Preeclampsia
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
Placental perfusion may also be reduced temporarily with the following conditions:
• Maternal hypotension
• Maternal tachyarrhythmia
Maternal Autoantibodies
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Hyperthyroidism
Drugs
• Opiates (e.g. pethidine)
• Beta sympathomimetics (e.g. terbutaline)
• Cocaine
Maternal Temperature
Sepsis has already been discussed separately. However, there have been several case reports
of maternal hypothermia (often resulting from sepsis) leading to prolonged decelerations on
the CTG. This is corrected by rewarming the mother. Similarly, a fetus may react to maternal
pyrexia by increasing its heart rate
Key Changes on the CTG Trace

Raised Baseline Fetal Heart Rate (FHR)
• Beta sympathomimetics (e.g. salbutamol or terbutaline)
• Fetal hyperthyroidism secondary to maternal anti-TSH receptor antibodies
Reduced Baseline FHR
• Congenital heart block secondary to maternal anti-Ro/La antibodies with SLE
(Systemic Lupus Erythematosus); a baseline bradycardia may be noted.
Reduced Variability
• Chronic maternal hypoxia leading to chronic fetal hypoxic state
○○ Severe maternal cardiac disease
• Conditions resulting in reduced placental perfusion, leading to chronic fetal
hypoxic state
• Opiates
• Severe maternal metabolic acidosis
93
Chapter 16: Maternal Environment and Fetal Heart Rate 93
Chemoreceptor-Stimulated Decelerations
• Maternal metabolic acidosis
Prolonged Decelerations
• Maternal hypoglycaemia
• Maternal hypotension
• Maternal hypothermia
Key Pathophysiology behind the Features Observed

on the CTG Trace
Raised Baseline FHR
• If present in significant titres, maternal anti-TSH receptor antibodies may cross the
placenta and cause neonatal thyrotoxicosis. This manifests as a fetal tachycardia with a
heart rate >160 bpm.
• Beta sympathomimetics cross the placenta and stimulate the fetal sympathetic nervous
system, causing a fetal tachycardia.
Reduced Baseline FHR
• Maternal anti-Ro (SSA) and anti-La (SSB) antibodies cross the placenta and, if
present in significant titres, cause inflammation of the fetal atrioventricular node and
myocardium, resulting in congenital heart block.
• This occurs in 1–5 per cent of fetuses of mothers with SLE.
• The baseline FHR will typically be <100 bpm; NICE guidelines will not
apply when interpreting such CTGs as this is a ‘nonhypoxic’ change in baseline
FHR.
Reduced Variability
• Chronic maternal hypoxia and conditions resulting in reduced placental perfusion can
cause intrauterine growth restriction and poor development of the fetal autonomic
nervous system.
• Such fetuses will have reduced reserve and will not compensate for the hypoxic stress of
labour as healthy fetuses; that is, reduced variability will appear on the CTG before the
onset of decelerations and a rise in baseline.
• Opiates depress the fetal autonomic nervous system, resulting in reduced baseline
variability.
• Maternal acidosis can reduce uterine blood flow and lead to decreased oxygenation
of the fetoplacental unit. This change, along with the accumulation of maternal
hydrogen ions in the fetus, may lead to fetal acidosis and subsequent reduced
baseline variability. In these situations, variability may become reduced before the
onset of decelerations.
94
94 Chapter 16: Maternal Environment and Fetal Heart Rate
Chemoreceptor-Simulated Decelerations
• Maternal metabolic acidosis leads to an increased maternal hydrogen ion concentration.
These hydrogen ions cross the placenta and stimulate fetal chemoreceptors, causing
shallow decelerations on the CTG trace.
• Maternal hypotension is most commonly caused by aortocaval compression. Placental
perfusion is reduced temporarily, causing a prolonged deceleration.
Management
Management of CTG abnormalities involves two principles:
• Correction of the precipitating cause
○○ Relieving aortocaval compression by moving the mother into the left lateral
position
○○ Warming the mother in cases of hypothermia
• Considering the entire clinical picture
○○ Threshold for delivery of growth-restricted fetuses will be much lower as they have
less physiological reserve.
Key Tips for Optimizing the Outcome

• Anticipate problems beforehand
○○ Fetal cardiac surveillance in mothers with anti-Ro/La antibodies
○○ Regular growth scans in mothers with medical conditions causing chronic hypoxia
• A thorough assessment of the mother’s medical condition on admission
○○ Blood glucose and blood gas measurement in diabetic women with suspected DKA
(Diabetic Ketoacidosis)
• A complete drug history including smoking and illicit drug use
• Timely correction of the precipitating factor(s)
• Anticipate a reactive fetal tachycardia for approximately 20 minutes after the
administration of a tocolytic (e.g. terbutaline) for uterine hyperstimulation, and no
intervention is necessary.
Common Pitfalls
• Proceeding directly to delivery by caesarean section in cases of prolonged decelerations
secondary to maternal conditions rather than correcting the precipitating cause
• Misreading a baseline bradycardia as a prolonged deceleration
• Not considering the complete clinical picture
• Unnecessary operative deliveries
• Worsening of maternal medical condition (e.g. DKA) that, if left untreated, can lead to
maternal death
95
Chapter 16: Maternal Environment and Fetal Heart Rate 95
Figure 16.1
• Worsening fetal outcomes as attempting to perform an emergency caesarean section for

a prolonged deceleration secondary to maternal hypotension may in fact worsen fetal
outcome while increasing unnecessary operative interventions on the mother.
Exercise
1. A 31-year-old primigravida presents to the labour ward at 37 weeks of gestation with a
history of regular contractions. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 11
and uses insulin pump therapy. Her HBA1c at booking was 56 mmol/mol and control
has been difficult during pregnancy. She appears dehydrated and urine dipstick shows
>3 ketones. On admission she is found to be 3 cm dilated and CTG monitoring is
commenced. The following trace is observed:
a. How would you classify the CTG?
b. What do you need to consider given her history and how might it impact upon
the CTG?
c. How will you manage her?
Further Reading 4. Balucan F, Morshed S, Davies T. Thyroid

autoantibodies in pregnancy: their role,
1. Hutter D, Kingdom J, Jaeggi E. Causes regulation and clinical relevance. J Thyroid
and mechanisms of intrauterine hypoxia Res. 2013 (2013) 15.
and its impact on the fetal cardiovascular 5. Jaeggi E, Laskin C, Hamilton R, Kingdom
system: a review. Int J Paeds. 2010 (2010) 9. J. The importance of the level of maternal
2. Parker J, Conway D. Diabetic ketoacidosis anti-Ro/SSA antibodies as a prognostic
in pregnancy. Obstet Gynaec Clin NA. 34 marker of the development of cardiac
(2007) 533–543. neonatal lupus erythematosus. J Am Coll
3. Aboud E, Neales K. The \effect of maternal Cardiol. 55 (2010) 2778–2784.
hypothermia on the fetal heart rate. Int J
Obstet Gynecol. 66 (1999) 163–164.
96
Use of CTG with Induction and

Chapter
17 Augmentation of Labour
Key Facts
• The rates of both induction (IOL) and augmentation of labour are progressively
increasing due to a better understanding of the course of obstetric and nonobstetric
pathologies in pregnancy such as essential hypertension, preeclampsia, diabetes and
obstetric cholestasis and improved and more widespread use of diagnostic techniques
such as obstetric ultrasound to detect intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) or fetal
malformations that require an earlier delivery.
• The rate of IOL in the United Kingdom is around 20 per cent, similar to other
developed countries, with 15 per cent of inductions requiring an instrumental delivery
and 22 per cent an emergency caesarean section.
• Indications for IOL include maternal reasons such as preeclampsia, diabetes, obstetric
cholestasis and other maternal diseases; fetal reasons include IUGR, multiple
pregnancy and conditions inherent to the pregnancy such as prolonged rupture of
membranes, meconium-stained liquor and postterm pregnancy.
• The most common method of IOL is the use of prostaglandin E2 in the form of
pessary, tablet or gel. Other methods include the use of balloon catheter, oxytocin,
prostaglandin E1 and antiprogesterons, the last two only licensed in cases of
intrauterine death.
• Oxytocin and prostaglandins have no direct reported effects on the fetus, and their
detrimental effects are mediated through excessive uterine activity and resultant
compression of umbilical cord and/or reduction in oxygenation of placental venous
sinuses.
• The most frequent complications occurring during the process of IOL are tachysystole,
hypertonus or uterine hyperstimulation. Other complications include failed induction,
rupture of membranes and occasionally umbilical cord prolapse, and uterine rupture
especially in the presence of a previous uterine scar.
• Scientific evidence suggests that if the intercontraction interval is <2.3 minutes
when oxytocin is used, there may be a rapid drop in oxygenated haemoglobin in the
fetal brain.

96
97
Chapter 17: CTG with Induction and Augmentation of Labour 97
Figure 17.1 Note the occurrence of uterine hypertonus with no uterine relaxation.

• ‘Tachysystole’ refers to the presence of five or more contractions in 10 minutes in the
absence of changes in the FHR. Tachysystole requires careful observation until changes
on the cardiograph are observed.
• ‘Uterine hyperstimulation’ refers to the presence of five or more contractions in 10
minutes (and/or increased tone and duration of uterine contractions), but, as opposed to
tachysystole, it produces changes in the FHR. In early stages, typical variable decelerations
appear; if excessive uterine activity (frequency, duration or strength) continues, the CTG
may show atypical and late decelerations (secondary to reduction in utero-placental
oxygenation), rise in baseline heart rate and loss of variability (‘gradually evolving hypoxia’).
• ‘Hypertonia’ or ‘uterine hypertonus’ refers to a sustained uterine contraction
lasting >60 seconds and has the potential to cause a prolonged deceleration
(Figure 17.1). In cases of previous caesarean section, this can reflect a uterine
rupture (see Chapter 15.)

• An evolving uterine hyperstimulation usually produces features suggestive of a
‘gradually evolving hypoxia’ on the CTG trace (decelerations followed by an absence of
accelerations, rise in baseline FHR initially followed by a loss of baseline variability and
a ‘stepladder’ pattern to death due to the onset of decompensation).
• A rapidly evolving or sustained uterine contraction may cause an acute umbilical cord
compression leading to a prolonged deceleration caused by an acute interruption of
fetal oxygenation. This prolonged deceleration is usually characterized by the presence
of good variability within the first 3 minutes of deceleration (in the absence of three
major accidents: abruption, uterine rupture and cord prolapse). However, if it is not
rapidly treated, variability may subsequently disappear suggestive of hypoxia to the
centres in the brain that control FHR.
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98 Chapter 17: CTG with Induction and Augmentation of Labour
• In the presence of uterine hyperstimulation, prostaglandins should be removed or
oxytocin should be stopped immediately if labour is being augmented. If CTG changes
persist with no signs of normalization, tocolytics (terbutaline 250 mcg subcutaneously)
should be administered to relax uterine myometrium and to relieve umbilical cord
compression and replenish oxygenation of placental venous sinuses so as to ensure
adequate fetal oxygenation. As soon as the uterine activity is reduced, the CTG trace
should show signs of recovery, with decelerations becoming narrower and shallower
and a progressive reduction of fetal heart baseline to the initial rate due to a reduction
in catecholamine surge and improvement of baseline variability (if it was reduced in
response to hyperstimulation).
• If there is a tachysystole, there is no need to intervene, but if there are any other risk
factors such as a previous uterine scar, IUGR or meconium-stained liquor among
others, the same management as with uterine hyperstimulation should be considered
to avoid further complications (i.e. uterine rupture, meconium aspiration syndrome or
rapid fetal compromise in IUGR due to a reduced physiological reserve).
• If there is a prolonged deceleration secondary to a sustained contraction, removal of
prostaglandins or stoppage of oxytocin infusion are immediate interventions. If there
are no attempts at recovery of FHR to its original baseline, administration of tocolytics
should be considered. In the absence of three major accidents (abruption, cord prolapse
and uterine rupture), the ‘3, 6, 9, 12, 15’ rule can be applied. In this clinical scenario,
90 per cent of prolonged decelerations recover to normal baseline in 6 minutes and up
to 95 per cent in 9 minutes, once the offending agent (prostaglandin or oxytocin) is
removed and tocolytics were administered (if indicated).

• Individualize every case and appropriately select the method and suitability of IOL/
augmentation. A severely compromised IUGR fetus with redistribution is unlikely to
have sufficient physiological reserves to cope with the process of IOL.
• During augmentation of labour, in the presence of early signs of gradually evolving
hypoxia (variable decelerations, absence of accelerations), anticipate further changes
and review the need to continue increasing oxytocin if regular contractions have been
achieved. One may need to re-examine a woman in 2 hours instead of 4 hours to assess
the progress of labour, because if there is evidence of progress, further increments of
oxytocin dosage are not necessary.
• Remember that as labour progresses, the number of oxytocin receptors increases in the
fundus, making the myometrium more sensitive to circulating oxytocin, and therefore,
less oxytocin may be needed as labour advances.
• Current scientific evidence suggests that the use of oxytocin to augment spontaneous
labour reduces the mean duration of labour by approximately 2 hours without
influencing the mode of birth. Therefore, in the light of this evidence, caution should
be exercised in the use of oxytocin in high-risk labour (previous caesarean section,
IUGR, meconium, clinical chorioamnionitis) as the benefit of 2-hour reduction
in the duration of labour may not outweigh the risks of uterine rupture, fetal
99
Chapter 17: CTG with Induction and Augmentation of Labour 99
hypoxic-ischaemic injury, synergistic hypoxic neurological damage in chorioamnionitis

or meconium aspiration syndrome.
• If oxytocin is restarted, the lowest possible dose to ensure optimum uterine
contractions should be used. For practical purposes, half the dose that resulted in
uterine hyperstimulation should be tried, if appropriate.
• During second stage of labour, oxytocin should be used with great caution as uterine
myometrium is maximally sensitive to oxytocin during this time and injudicious use of
oxytocin may result in rapidly evolving hypoxia and fetal neurological injury.
Pitfalls
• Failure to incorporate the clinical picture into the management. The presence of
meconium-stained liquor, chorioamnionitis or IUGR should be taken into account
when considering augmentation of labour. In the presence of any of these risk factors,
increasing the hypoxic stress can have dramatic consequences on the fetus.
• Interrupting the process of IOL in the presence of a tachysystole. In the absence
of fetal compromise, there is no need to remove prostaglandins or administer
tocolytics.
• Injudicious use of oxytocin especially only concentrating on the frequency of
uterine contractions without considering uterine activity (frequency, duration and
strength).
• Failure to ensure adequate intercontraction interval to facilitate optimal oxygenation of
placental venous sinuses when oxytocin is used to induce or augment labour.
• Meconium aspiration syndrome with increased perinatal morbidity and mortality
• Intrapartum stillbirth
• Neonatal death
• Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy
• Uterine rupture
• Unnecessary operative interventions
Exercise
1. A 30-year-old, G2 P1, previous caesarean section is being induced for postdates (41 + 4
weeks of gestation). She had prostaglandin pessary inserted for 24 hours, following
which she had an artificial rupture of membranes (ARMs) that showed meconium
grade 1. Two hours later, she was started on oxytocin infusion. Oxytocin has been
augmented every 30 minutes as per protocol. CTG trace before the ARM was normal
with a baseline FHR of 130 bpm, variability of 10–15 bpm, presence of accelerations
with no decelerations and she had two contractions in 10 minutes.
CTG after 8 hours of oxytocin augmentation shows the following features:
a. What is your diagnosis?
b. What is your management?
c. What other complications do you expect?
100
100 Chapter 17: CTG with Induction and Augmentation of Labour
Figure 17.2
Further Reading 3. WHO recommendations for augmentation

of labour. 2014
1. McCarthy FP, Kenny LC. Induction of 4. McDonnell S, Chandraharan E. The
labour. Obstet, Gynaecol, Reprod Med. pathophysiology of CTGs and types of
2013; 24(1): 9–15. intrapartum hypoxia. Curr Women’s Health
2. National Institute for Health and Clinical Rev. 2013; 9: 158–168.
Excellence. Induction of labour. Clinical 5. Chandraharan E, Arulkumaran S. Acute
guideline 70. Available at www.nice.org.uk/ tocolysis. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2005;
CG070; July 2008. 17: 151–156.
101
Recognition of Chronic Hypoxia and

Chapter
18 the Preterminal Cardiotocograph

Austin Ugwumadu
The Fetal Neurologic State

• A normal developing fetus exhibits a range of often coordinated and rhythmical
behavioural states including gross movements, eye movements and fetal heart rate
(FHR). An underlying assumption in studying these variables is that they may reflect
fetal brain development and that factors that impair brain development or function
may lead to abnormalities in the clustering of these variables, their occurrence and/
or their qualitative appearance. One such factor is chronic hypoxia, and its effect on
the general characteristics of FHR, in particular FHR variability, forms the basis of
recognition of fetuses with an antecedent injury.
• Although there are marked interfetal variations in the normal neurologic state, the
term and near-term fetus may spend up to 25 per cent of its time in quiet (non–rapid
eye movement [REM] sleep) during which FHR, fetal heart variability and movements
are reduced.1 Near term, quiet sleep lasts for approximately 20 minutes and active
sleep approximately 40 minutes.2 The mechanisms that control these cycles of rest and
activity in the fetus are yet to be fully elucidated.
Physiology of FHR Regulation and Variability

• Baseline FHR is the summation of moment-by-moment autonomic modulation
from the medullary cardiorespiratory centre in response to an array of inputs from
(a) chemoreceptors, (b) baroreceptors, (c) hormonal regulation, (d) central nervous
system activities such as sleep and arousal states and (e) blood volume control. The
parasympathetic innervation of the heart originates from the medulla oblongata
through the vagus nerve to supply the sinoatrial (SA) and atrioventricular (AV) nodal
pacemaker tissues where on stimulation it exerts two main effects, namely, reduction
in the rate of firing of the SA nodal tissue resulting in a fall in FHR, and an oscillatory
effect which alters the R-wave intervals resulting in FHR variability.
• There is no regulatory vagal innervation to the myocardium. Vagotomy or
administration of atropine will block the release of acetylcholine from the vagus
nerve endings at the SA node with a resultant increase in FHR. Sympathetic nervous
system fibres, on the other hand, are widely distributed throughout the myocardium
of the term fetus. Stimulation releases noradrenaline at the nerve endings resulting
in an increase in FHR, contractility and cardiac output. The administration of

101
102
102 Chapter 18: Chronic Hypoxia and Preterminal Cardiotocograph
sympathoplegics or lesions of sympathetic pathway results in a fall in baseline FHR and

blunt FHR accelerations.
• FHR variability represents slight differences in time intervals between each heartbeat
and the next (aka short-term variability) as counted and recorded by the heart rate
monitor. If these intervals were identical, the FHR trace would be straight, smooth and
regular. Although this beat-to-beat variability is frequently and loosely attributed to
the interactions between sympathetic and parasympathetic reflexes, the facts are much
more complex than that.
• The source of FHR variability includes input from cerebral cortex, midbrain, vagus
nerve and specialized cardiac pacemaker tissues. That final FHR variability is due to
beat-to-beat adjustments from baroreceptor influence, or from rapidly oscillating
vagal impulses, which vary irregularly in frequency and amplitude and involve short-
and long-term changes.3,4 The magnitude of FHR variability may be affected by fetal
breathing, fetal movements and fetal sleep state.
• In practice, FHR variability is observed as irregular fluctuations in amplitude and
frequency of baseline FHR on a CTG paper and quantified as the amplitude of peak-to-
trough in beats per minute. To exhibit a normal FHR variability, the fetus requires an
intact cerebral cortex, midbrain, vagus nerve and cardiac conductive tissues.
• FHR variability has emerged as a critical determinant of adequate perfusion,
oxygenation and function of the central nervous system and the FHR characteristic
most consistently associated with new-born acidosis and morbidity. Even in the
presence of decelerations or bradycardia, a fetus that displays a normal variability has
a very low risk of acidaemia, immediate death or asphyxial brain injury,5–7 while absent
or reduced variability was associated with significant new-born acidaemia in both
term7,8 and preterm infants.9 In a recent systematic review, minimal or undetectable
FHR variability was the most consistent predictor of new-born acidaemia.5 In
contrast, increased FHR variation was observed in association with severe acidosis
and hypotension in a hypoxia-ischaemia model using term-equivalent fetal sheep.10
Furthermore, absent FHR variability may be idiopathic, but usually the other features
of FHR are normal, including cycling activity and absence of FHR decelerations.
Fetal Response to Hypoxia-Ischaemia

• Under normal conditions, a large number of control mechanisms are activated in
response to acute hypoxia including chemoreceptor, baroreceptor, sympathetic and
parasympathetic influences. Therefore, fetal response to hypoxia-ischaemia is complex.
For the purposes of this chapter, it suffices to state the following well-established
observations: fetal response to maternal hypoxia, reduced uterine blood flow, or to an
umbilical cord occlusion is a prompt FHR deceleration. This deceleration has a drop of
approximately 30 bpm from the original baseline. This deceleration (or bradycardia)
depending on the duration of insult is variably associated with hypertension and,
therefore, can occur with baroreceptor as well as chemoreceptor activation.
• In the absence of progressive acidaemia, the fetal sheep may restore its FHR and
variability to normal after approximately 12–16 hours of exposure to acute hypoxia.
In addition to FHR deceleration outlined above, initial response to hypoxia includes
a rise in fetal blood pressure, a rapid and up to 60 per cent reduction in oxygen
consumption, which can be sustained for up to 45 minutes depending on the degree
103
Chapter 18: Chronic Hypoxia and Preterminal Cardiotocograph 103
of hypoxia and rapidly reversible if the insult is removed and oxygenation restored.
A further response is adrenergic activation. The resultant β-adrenergic activity leads to
increased inotropic effect to maintain or increase cardiac output and umbilical blood
flow, while the α-adrenergic activity is important in determining regional blood flow
in the hypoxic fetus by selective vasoconstriction. The 60 per cent reduction in oxygen
consumption, FHR deceleration/bradycardia, anaerobic glycolysis and selective
vasoconstriction enable the fetus to survive a relatively long period of limited oxygen
supply currently estimated to be approximately 30–60 minutes without damage to
vital organs. If hypoxia persists, metabolic acidosis would develop due to lactic acid
accumulation in those organs where there has been vasoconstriction and inadequate
oxygen supply for metabolic needs, and in severe or sustained cases, the above
responses fail and are followed by a decline in cardiac output, blood pressure and
blood flow to the brain.
FHR Characteristics of a Chronically Hypoxic Fetus

• The admission CTG may be controversial; however, a prompt recognition of the fetus
with a preexisting brain injury in early labour is one of the strongest arguments in its
favour. Such a key finding permits the obstetrician and/or the midwife to assign or
reassign the patient to her appropriate risk category. A normal CTG is the hallmark
of fetal well-being,11 suggests normoxia,12 normal acid–base status,13,14 absence
of asphyxia13,14 and, in the absence of unpredictable obstetric catastrophe, a low
probability of intrapartum fetal asphyxia.15
• A normal CTG also suggests that the fetal neurological and cardiovascular systems are
intact and able to react and defend the fetus against intrapartum insults. In contrast,
the fetus with an abnormal CTG in early labour may already be injured and is likely to
exhibit maladaptive or no compensatory responses if exposed to asphyxiating insults
during labour. Such a fetus is at risk of adverse outcome,15 including intrapartum death
and long-term neurological deficits.16–18
• Fetuses with antecedent brain injury from hypoxic-ischaemic insults do not exhibit
a uniform set of FHR patterns during labour. However, they do display distinct FHR
patterns, which allow the clinician to profile their risk and management on the basis of
initial FHR on admission and subsequent changes in baseline FHR. The characteristic,
but by no means exclusive, FHR pattern of antenatally injured fetus is nonreactive CTG
with a fixed and invariable baseline from admission to delivery, associated with reduced
or average FHR variability16,17,19 (Figure 18.1). This pattern does not suggest an ongoing
asphyxial insult but represents a post–brain injury compensatory response by the fetus,
a sort of static intrauterine encephalopathy.
• In a study of 300 brain-damaged babies who were monitored on admission in
labour, a persistently nonreactive FHR pattern was found in 45 per cent.17 Phelan
and Kim categorized these nonreactive admission CTGs into three groups on the
basis of baseline FHR and FHR variability in order to correlate the FHR patterns to
the duration of time from injury.20 They concluded that fetuses admitted with FHR
tachycardia >160 bpm and reduced or absent variability were likely to be closer to the
time of insult compared to their peers with normal baseline FHR and reduced or even
average FHR variability who are likely to be further remote from the time of brain
injury.
104
(a)
(b)
(c)
105
(d)
(e)
Figure 18.1 Parous woman, with uneventful antenatal course, admitted with spontaneous early labour at 38 + 5
weeks of gestation. She was started on CTG because FHR decelerations were heard on intermittent auscultation.
The CTG showed typical nonreactive FHR pattern with reduced variability of antenatal fetal injury. She delivered
spontaneously many hours later with FHR collapse in the second stage of labour. Apgar score 1 and 1 at 1 and
5 minutes, arterial pH 6.9, venous pH 7.0, HIE grade 3. This outcome is inconsistent with the gases. MRI showed
symmetrical signal abnormality in the thalami and to a lesser extent in basal ganglia and hippocampi. (A) CTG
trace on admission shows absence of baseline variability. (B) Continuation of the CTG trace shows absence of
cycling. (C) CTG continues to show a higher-than-expected baseline FHR for a posttermfetus. (D) CTG trace shows
the appearance of ‘shallow decelerations’ with advancing labour. (E) CTG trace shows the onset of a terminal
bradycardia which is the end stage of chronic hypoxia leading to an acute on chronic insult.
• Tachycardia associated with a ‘gradually evolving hypoxia’ may still be in evolution

when a woman presents in labour, and this pattern may mimic the chronically
hypoxic fetus. The clinician may be confused because he or she did not observe the
previously normal FHR pattern. However, this pattern is, by definition, almost always
106
accompanied by repetitive complex variable decelerations. Once tachycardia begins in

response to repetitive decelerations, the natural history of this pattern may lead to one
of a number of outcomes, namely, FHR tachycardia persists or continues to rise until
delivery, or a prolonged and persistent FHR deceleration or bradycardia until delivery,
or slow but progressive decline of FHR from tachycardia as the fetus approaches death.
In this specific subset of fetuses, the value of FHR variability as a reliable indicator
of fetal well-being has been challenged.21 A proportion of brain-damaged children
exhibited average FHR variability at the time of their delivery and manifested cerebral
oedema in the neonatal period suggesting that brain injury in this context may precede
loss of FHR variability.
• One relevant question is how FHR variability was defined in that study. In
practice, increased FHR variation associated with severe acidosis may be abrupt,
erratic, high amplitude, and lack the natural wavelike characteristic of normal
FHR variability and are oftentimes still classified as increased FHR variability or
saltatory patterns. This is incorrect as it implies exaggerated but normal wavelike
variability.
Other Markers of Chronic Hypoxia in the Fetus

• Other markers of chronic hypoxia and fetal compromise may be observed in these
cases, including reduced fetal movement prior to admission, oligohydramnios,
presence of old meconium staining of amniotic fluid, meconium aspiration
syndrome and subsequent pulmonary hypertension. Meconium is known to induce
vasoconstriction of fetoplacental and chorionic vessels and in high concentrations may
cause ulcerations of these vessels.22,23 In addition, meconium degrades the bacteriostatic
activity of the amniotic fluid, thereby increasing the risk of ascending infection and
chorioamnionitis.24,25
• Therefore, it is conceivable that at least a proportion of the fetuses with meconium
contamination of the amniotic fluid are possibly in a state of systemic vasoconstriction
and may be vulnerable to decompensation and brain injury during labour.
Furthermore, fetuses with a fixed nonreactive FHR pattern have raised nucleated red
blood cells (NRBCs),26,27 prolonged NRBC clearance times,26 low platelet counts,28
delayed onset of seizures from birth,29 multiorgan system dysfunction30 and cortical
brain injuries.17
The Preterminal CTG
• The definition of preterminal CTG in classic textbooks and teaching modules, involving
FHR tachycardia, reduced or absent variability and shallow FHR decelerations, may
be misleading in clinical practice. First, the reason such end-stage FHR patterns are
classified as ‘preterminal’ is because the fetus is at risk of death if it is not delivered
expeditiously. However, there are several other FHR patterns, which, if left to run their
natural courses, would also result in fetal demise without necessarily operating via the
widely recognized and reported preterminal CTG pattern.
• These other patterns include prolonged and persistent FHR deceleration or
bradycardia, particularly if associated with a loss of FHR variability, tachycardia
associated with FHR deceleration and loss of variability, and severe subacute hypoxia
pattern in which there are high amplitude and long-standing FHR decelerations
107
and short interdeceleration intervals. Clinicians should rethink their definition and
approach to FHR patterns, which carry the risk of intrapartum fetal death.
Conclusions
• A prompt recognition of the FHR pattern of chronically hypoxic fetus and preterminal
CTG is essential to initiating appropriate and timely intervention to achieve a good
outcome. Typically, the fetus with antecedent brain injury exhibits a nonreactive CTG
with a fixed and nonvariable baseline associated with reduced or average variability,
which should not be confused with ongoing asphyxial insult but represents a postinjury
static encephalopathy.
• Fetuses admitted with FHR tachycardia >160 bpm and reduced or absent variability are
likely to have suffered a recent injury, in contrast to their peers with normal baseline
FHR and reduced or average FHR variability who are likely to be remote from the time
of brain injury.
References of neonatal acidemia. Am J Obstet Gynecol.

2003;188:820–3.
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Kilpatrick SJ. Fetal acidaemia and predictive values of pulse oximetry and
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evidence of an association? J Matern Fetal Group on Fetal Pulse Oximetry. Am J
Neonatal Med. 2006;19:289–94. Obstet Gynecol. 1997;177:593–8.
6. Young BK, Katz M, Klein SA, Silverman F. 13. Clark SL, Gimovsky ML, Miller FC. The
Fetal blood and tissue pH with moderate scalp stimulation test: a clinical alternative
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1979;135:45–7. Gynecol. 1984;148:274–7.
7. Williams KP, Galerneau F. Fetal 14. Shaw K, Clark SL. Reliability of
heart rate parameters predictive of intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring in
neonatal outcome in the presence of a the postterm fetus with meconium passage.
prolonged deceleration. Obstet Gynecol. Obstet Gynecol. 1988;72:886–9.
2002;100:951–4. 15. Ingemarsson I, Arulkumaran S,
8. Williams KP, Galerneau F. Intrapartum Ingemarsson E, Tambyraja RL, Ratnam
fetal heart rate patterns in the prediction SS. Admission test: a screening test for
108
fetal distress in labor. Obstet Gynecol. meconium staining of the umbilical cord.
1986;68:800–6. Biol Neonate. 1995;67:100–8.
16. Phelan JP, Ahn MO. Perinatal observations 24. Perlman JM, Risser R, Broyles RS. Bilateral
in forty-eight neurologically impaired cystic periventricular leukomalacia in the
term infants. Am J Obstet Gynecol. premature infant: associated risk factors.
1994;171:424–31. Pediatrics. 1996;97:822–7.
17. Phelan JP, Ahn MO. Fetal heart rate 25. Yoon BH, Romero R, Kim CJ, Jun JK,
observations in 300 term brain- Gomez R, Choi JH, Syn HC. Amniotic
damaged infants. J Matern Fetal Inv. fluid interleukin-6: a sensitive test for
1998;8:1–5. antenatal diagnosis of acute inflammatory
18. Devoe LD, McKenzie J, Searle NS, Sherline lesions of preterm placenta and prediction
DM. Clinical sequelae of the extended of perinatal morbidity. Am J Obstet
nonstress test. Am J Obstet Gynecol. Gynecol. 1995;172:960–70.
1985;151:1074–8. 26. Phelan JP, Ahn MO, Korst LM, Martin
19. Leveno KJ, Williams ML, DePalma GI. Nucleated red blood cells: a marker
RT, Whalley PJ. Perinatal outcome in for fetal asphyxia? Am J Obstet Gynecol.
the absence of antepartum fetal heart 1995;173:1380–4.
rate acceleration. Obstet Gynecol. 27. Buonocore G, Perrone S, Gioia D, Gatti
1983;61:347–55. MG, Massafra C, Agosta R. et al. Nucleated
20. Phelan JP, Kim JO. Fetal heart rate red blood cell count at birth as an index
observations in the brain-damaged infant. of perinatal brain damage. Am J Obstet
Semin Perinatol. 2000;24:221–9. Gynecol. 1999;181:1500–5.
21. Takahashi Y, Ukita M, Nakada E. 28. Korst LM, Phelan JP, Wang YM, Ahn MO.
Intrapartum FHR monitoring and Neonatal platelet counts in fetal brain
neonatal CT brain scan. Nihon Sanka injury. Am J Perinatol. 1999;16:79–83.
Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi. 1982;34:2133–42. 29. Ahn MO, Korst LM, Phelan JP, Martin
22. Altshuler G, Arizawa M, Molnar-Nadasdy GI. Does the onset of neonatal seizures
G. Meconium-induced umbilical cord correlate with the timing of fetal
vascular necrosis and ulceration: a neurologic injury? Clin Pediatr (Phila).
potential link between the placenta and 1998;37:673–6.
poor pregnancy outcome. Obstet Gynecol. 30. Korst LM, Phelan JP, Wang YM, Martin
1992;79:760–6. GI, Ahn MO. Acute fetal asphyxia and
23. Pickens J, Toubas PL, Hyde S, Altshuler permanent brain injury: a retrospective
G. In vitro model of human umbilical analysis of current indicators. J Matern
venous perfusion to study the effects of Fetal Med. 1999;8:101–6.
109
Unusual Fetal Heart Rate Patterns

Chapter
19 Sinusoidal and Saltatory Patterns

Madhusree Ghosh and Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
• A sinusoidal (typical) fetal heart rate (FHR) pattern may be due to physiological causes
like fetal thumb sucking or administration of narcotic analgesics like alphaprodine2,3
and butorphanol.4,5
• The most common pathological cause of sinusoidal FHR is fetal anaemia due to rhesus
isoimmunization (typical sinusoidal pattern) with fetal hypoxia and acidosis and
sudden loss of fetal blood volume due to acute fetomaternal haemorrhage (atypical
sinusoidal pattern).
• Saltatory FHR patterns6 can be due to uterine hyperstimulation, ephedrine
administration and repeated intensive hypoxic stress such as active maternal pushing in
active second stage of labour.

Features of sinusoidal heart rate are:
• Stable baseline FHR of 120 to 160 beats per minute with regular sine-wave oscillations
• Amplitude of 5 to 15 beats per minute
• Frequency of 2 to 5 cycles per minute
• Reduced or absent baseline variability
• Absence of accelerations
The features of saltatory pattern are (see Figure 19.2):
• Fetal heart rate baseline amplitude changes greater than 25 beats per minute
• Oscillatory frequency of greater than 6 per minute
• Minimum duration of 1 minute
Sinusoidal FHR can be further classified as7:
• Smooth or typical –rounded, symmetric in shape
• Jagged or atypical –jagged, saw-toothed form, also termed as ‘Poole shark teeth pattern’
(Figure 19.1)
• Pseudo-sinusoidal –undulatory waveforms or regular FHR baseline oscillations of
constant amplitude, alternating with episodes of normal baseline variability and reactivity

109
110
110 Chapter 19: Unusual Fetal Heart Rate Patterns
Figure 19.1 Atypical sinusoidal pattern: ‘Poole shark teeth pattern’.
Figure 19.2 Pseudo-sinusoidal pattern. Note the presence of normal variability prior to sinusoidal pattern.
Key Pathophysiology of Sinusoidal and Saltatory FHR Patterns

• Exact pathophysiology not well understood due to its rare occurrence.
• Sinusoidal FHR is either due to central nervous system involvement or an umbilical
cord–related aetiology such as acute and repeated umbilical cord compression leading
to alternative episodes of fetal hypovolemia and hypertension.
• Derangement or loss of central nervous system control over the FHR is believed to be
the common pathway of sinusoidal FHR patterns. This may explain the occurrence of
this pattern after administration of certain drugs that act on the central nervous system
and fetal hypoxia and acidosis.
• Sinusoidal FHR pattern may occur due to a massive fetomaternal transfusion and
maternal anaemia. Severe anaemia may lead to local relative hypoxia of specialized
tissues such as the central nervous system cardiac centre leading to sinusoidal pattern.
• Sinusoidal FHR is also seen in the presence of chorioamnionitis. The fetuses may not
be hypoxic but show a sinusoidal FHR pattern due to maternal pyrexia. This is because
elevated maternal temperature may adversely affect fetal brain function, thereby
inactivating central nervous system control over FHR.
111
Chapter 19: Unusual Fetal Heart Rate Patterns 111
• Atypical sinusoidal pattern is believed to occur secondary to acute fetal hypotension

and resultant acute hypoxia to the central nervous system that causes instability of the
autonomic nervous system.
• Pseudo-sinusoidal FHR is not typically associated with fetal compromise.
• Saltatory FHR is probably a result of instability between sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous systems resulting in rapidly evolving hypoxia to the central
nervous system.
• Exclude predisposing causes for sinusoidal and saltatory patterns.
• Sinusoidal traces secondary to administration of drugs can be managed expectantly.
• Due to a lack of correlation between sinusoidal traces and documented fetal hypoxia,
one needs to consider the underlying clinical picture, for example, reduced fetal
movement, presence of meconium, intrapartum bleeding prior to embarking on
operative delivery.
• An ultrasound scan may be performed to confirm fetal thumb sucking.
• In cases of typical or atypical sinusoidal traces for >10 minutes in the presence of risk
factors (Rhesus-negative status, sudden fetomaternal bleeding), urgent delivery is
indicated by the quickest and safest mode of birth.
• In cases of saltatory patterns, oxytocin infusion should be reduced or stopped and the
woman should be advised to stop pushing in the second stage of labour to improve
utero-placental circulation and re-establish oxygenation of the brain. If improvement
in the features of CTG trace are observed, labour may be allowed to continue. If
saltatory pattern persists despite conservative measures and immediate delivery is not
imminent, tocolysis should be continued. Delivery should be accomplished if there is
no improvement despite intrauterine resuscitation.
• The neonatal team should be notified as the neonate may be hypoxic or hypotensive at
birth requiring advanced neonatal resuscitation and blood transfusion.

• Unusual FHR patterns may be physiological; however, pathological causes need to be
excluded.
• Exclude predisposing factors such as chronic fetal anaemia, chorioamnionitis and
administration of drugs to the mother.
• Prompt recognition of sinusoidal pattern where there is an ongoing fetomaternal
haemorrhage is essential.
• Clear communication with multidisciplinary team is mandatory.
• Escalate and seek immediate senior obstetric help when unsure about unusual patterns.
• Continuous training of obstetric doctors and midwives on unusual FHR patterns, their
significance and management is recommended.
Pitfalls
• Failure to differentiate between physiological and persisting sinusoidal patterns due to
ongoing fetomaternal haemorrhage.
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112 Chapter 19: Unusual Fetal Heart Rate Patterns
Figure 19.3
• Failure to recognize concealed placental abruption and ongoing atypical sinusoidal

pattern.
• Failure to inform the neonatal team regarding the possibility of severe fetal anaemia
and/or hypotension, which may require an urgent neonatal blood transfusion
after birth.
• Intrapartum fetal death and early neonatal death.
• Severe hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).
• Unnecessary operative intervention due to lack of recognition and treatment of a
sinusoidal pattern secondary to a physiological cause.
• Maternal hypotension and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) due to
a failure of recognition of an atypical sinusoidal pattern secondary to a concealed
abruption.
Exercise
1. A 35-year-old primigravida presents at 38 weeks of gestation with abdominal pain for 3
hours and reduced fetal movements with no vaginal bleeding. On examination, uterine
contractions were palpated and the cervix was fully effaced, 2 cm dilated.
b. Is a CTG indicated?
c. She was re-examined in 4 hours and established to be in labour. She was later com-
menced on oxytocin for confirmed delay in the first stage of labour. Vaginal exami-
nation after 4 hours of oxytocin demonstrated that she was 8 cm dilated. Describe
the CTG at this stage (Figure 19.3). Do you have any concerns?
d. She opted for an epidural anesthesia and is now fully dilated and has had a 2-hour
passive descent. A repeat vaginal examination suggests that she is fully dilated with
the fetal head in occipito-anterior position, at station +1. A decision has been made
to start active pushing. She has been actively pushing for 20 minutes and CTG is
given below (Figure 19.4). How would you describe the CTG?
e. What is your management plan based on the features observed on the CTG
(Figure 19.4)?
113
Chapter 19: Unusual Fetal Heart Rate Patterns 113
Figure 19.4
References intravenous butorphanol administration: a

case report. Am J Obstet Gynecol
1. The Use of Electronic Fetal Monitoring. 1984;149:465–7.
London: National Institute for Clinical 5. Hatjis CG, Meis PJ. Sinusoidal fetal heart
Excellence; 2001. rate pattern associated with butorphanol
2. Gray JH, Cudmore DW, Luther ER, Martin administration. Obstet Gynecol
TR, Gardner AJ. Sinusoidal fetal heart 1986;67:377–80.
rate pattern associated with alphaprodine 6. Yanamandra N, Chandraharan E. Saltatory
administration. Obstet Gynecol and sinusoidal fetal heart rate patterns
1978;52:678–81. and significance of FHR ‘overshoots’.
3. Veren D, Boehm FH, Killam AP. The Curr Women’s Health Rev. 2013;9:175–82.
clinical significance of sinusoidal fetal heart 7. Graca LM, Cardoso CG, Calhaz-jorge
rate pattern associated with alphaprodine C. An approach to interpretation and
administration. J Reprod Med 1982;27:411–4. classification of sinusoidal fetal heart rate
4. Angel JL, Knuppel RA, Lake M. Sinusoidal patterns. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol
fetal heart rate pattern associated with 1988;27:203–12.
114
Intrauterine Resuscitation
Chapter
20 Abigail Spring and Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
• Intrauterine resuscitation is easy to perform and can result in a significant
improvement in the in-utero fetal condition.
• The reversal of fetal hypoxia and acidosis may allow labour to continue safely or
optimize the fetal condition/well-being until urgent delivery is accomplished. If not
corrected, it may result in fetal decompensation leading to hypoxic injury.
• Oxygen delivery to the fetus is dependent on:
• Uterine oxygen delivery: maternal haemoglobin, oxygen saturation and perfusion
pressure, maternal position.
• Utero-placental circulation: uterine activity (frequency, duration and strength of
contractions), size of ‘placental pools’.
• Transfer of oxygen to the fetus: cord compression, cord prolapse.
• Fetal circulation: high fetal haemoglobin concentration, fetal cardiac output highly
dependent on fetal heart rate (FHR).

• ‘Fetal distress’ is a nonspecific term used to describe concerns on the CTG trace, and
therefore, clinicians should instead use the term ‘suspected fetal compromise’.
• Decelerations –these may be early, variable, late or prolonged (>3 minutes).
• Fetal bradycardia (<110 bpm persisting for >10 minutes).
• Uterine hyperstimulation (increased frequency, strength or duration of contractions
associated with CTG changes).
• Loss of baseline variability with preceding decelerations and rise in baseline FHR.

• Variable decelerations –repeated umbilical cord compression with each contraction
resulting in fetal systemic hypertension mediated through baroreceptors.
• Late decelerations –ongoing utero-placental insufficiency mediated through
chemoreceptors that respond to acidosis and increased carbon dioxide concentration.

114
115
Chapter 20: Intrauterine Resuscitation 115
Figure 20.1 Uterine hypertonus after the administration of oxytocin, which is relieved after stopping oxytocin
infusion and administration of terbutaline.
• Prolonged declarations –maternal hypotension, uterine hyperstimulation (hypertonus)

often in response to oxytocin (Figure 20.1), sustained umbilical cord compression or
cord prolapse.
• Oxygen: High-flow oxygen administration via a non-rebreathe mask will increase
maternal oxygen saturation and partial pressure, thus increasing fetal oxygenation.
However, this is only recommended in patients with reduced maternal oxygen
saturation level (e.g. maternal cardiac arrest or maternal hypovolumia secondary to
massive placental abruption) as routine administration of oxygen may be even harmful
due to vasoconstriction of the placental bed secondary to increased oxygen tension,
especially in a growth-restricted fetus.
• Fluid: One litre rapid intravenous infusion (unless fluid restricted/contraindicated, i.e.
preeclampsia), even if the woman is not hypovolemic, will improve venous return and
cardiac output and, therefore, uterine blood flow. Fluid infusion may also help dilute
oxytocin in cases of uterine hyperstimulation.
• Maternal repositioning: A change in maternal position, for example, left lateral, may
relieve aortocaval compression and cardiac output.
• Stop oxytocics (i.e. syntocinon) and consider administration of tocolytics (e.g.
terbutaline 0.25 mg subcutaneously) if there is evidence of hyperstimulation –this
will improve utero-placental perfusion and reduce cord compression through uterine
relaxation. Similarly, if prostaglandins are administered to induce labour, this must
be removed immediately and tocolytics should be administered if there is no further
improvement in the CTG trace.
• Vasopressors (e.g. adrenaline) if maternal hypotension occurs secondary to maternal
collapse –this may be considered to restore cardiac output and maternal BP.
116
116 Chapter 20: Intrauterine Resuscitation

• A combination of interventions may be of a greater benefit.
• Ensure continuous reassessment –after each intervention, it is important to observe for
subsequent improvement in the CTG trace including a reduction in decelerations, a fall
in baseline heart rate and improvement in baseline variability or, in cases of prolonged
deceleration, recovery to normal baseline heart rate.
• Assess progress of labour and the ‘wider clinical picture’ after improvement in the CTG
trace to determine whether continuation of labour is appropriate.
• In chronic hypoxia or umbilical cord prolapse, if a delay in delivery is anticipated (e.g.
operating theatre being busy), tocolysis may help reduce hypoxic stress by abolishing
uterine contractions until urgent delivery is accomplished.
• If atonic postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is not responding to standard oxytocics after
administration of terbutaline to relax the myometrium, propranolol 1 mg intravenously
should be considered to reverse the effects of terbutaline after delivery in cases of
refractory PPH not responding to standard oxytocic drugs.
Pitfalls
• Change in maternal position can, in some cases, result in worsening of cord
compression; thus, further positions should be tried including the right lateral or knee-
elbow position.
• Use of tocolysis to reduce uterine activity and to improve fetal condition may induce
maternal tachycardia and hypotension (glyceryl trinitrate is not licenced as an acute
tocolytic agent).
• A tocolytic may additionally predispose to atonic PPH during caesarean section if
immediate delivery is accomplished.
• Worsening intrapartum hypoxic stress leading to hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy
and perinatal death.
• Unnecessary operative interventions due to ‘CTG abnormalities’ secondary to uterine
hyperstimulation, which is a correctable cause.
Exercise
1. A 29-year-old primigravida presented with spontaneous early labour at 39 + 4 weeks of
gestation. She was commenced on oxytocin at 5 cm dilation for failure to progress. One
hour later, her CTG trace (Figure 20.2) shows the following features.
Two hours later, the CTG trace shows the following features (Figure 20.3).
b. What is your diagnosis?
c. What action will you take?
117
Chapter 20: Intrauterine Resuscitation 117
Figure 20.2
Figure 20.3
Further Reading 3. Thurlow, JA. Kinsella, SM. (2002)

Intrauterine resuscitation: active
1. Kither, H. Monaghan, S. (2013) management of fetal distress. International
Intrauterine fetal resuscitation. Anaesthesia Journal of Obstetric Anaesthesia 11, 105–116.
and Intensive Care Medicine 14 (7) 4. National Institute for Health and Clinical
287–290. Excellence (2014) Intrapartum Care
2. Velayudhareddy, S. Kirankumar, H. (2010) CG190. London: RCOG Press.
Management of fetal asphyxia 5. Tram, TS. Kulier, R. Hofmeyr, GJ. (2012)
by intrauterine foetal resuscitation. Acute tocolysis for uterine tachysystole or
Indian Journal of Anaesthesia 54 (5) suspected fetal distress. Cochrane Database
394–399. of Systematic Reviews 4.
118
Management of Prolonged
Chapter
21 Decelerations and Bradycardia

Rosemary Townsend and Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
• A prolonged deceleration indicates a need for urgent assessment and intervention to
improve fetal oxygenation.
• Acute hypoxia caused by cord prolapse, placental abruption or uterine rupture
mandates delivery without any delay.
• Most prolonged decelerations with an identifiable reversible cause will respond to
conservative measures and recover within 9 minutes and do not require immediate
delivery.
• Acute tocolysis is a useful treatment for prolonged deceleration secondary to uterine
hyperstimulation.
• In the absence of an irreversible cause (placental abruption, umbilical cord prolapse
and uterine rupture), the most important features of the CTG trace that predict the
likelihood of recovery of an ongoing prolonged deceleration are baseline variability
prior to the onset of deceleration and variability in the first 3 minutes of deceleration.
In addition, if the fetal heart rate (FHR) is maintained >100 bpm during a prolonged
deceleration, the likelihood of acidosis is low. Conversely, an acute drop in FHR
<80 bpm may indicate acute intrapartum hypoxic insult and may lead to a rapid
development of fetal acidosis if this persists for >3 minutes.
Management of Prolonged Decelerations

• A prolonged deceleration may be secondary to fetal hypoxia caused by reduced
utero-placental perfusion or sustained cord compression. Nonhypoxic prolonged
decelerations may also be seen during profound vagal stimulation, as is seen with
increased intracranial pressure caused by head compression immediately before
delivery of the head,1 and not all prolonged decelerations are associated with the same
degree of neonatal acidaemia.
• The outcome for the fetus will depend on the cause of deceleration, the fetal condition
before deceleration and the preexisting placental reserves, and therefore, it is important
to keep the whole clinical picture in mind.
• The fetal response to acute hypoxia is a chemoreflex response leading to prolonged
deceleration and increased peripheral resistance.2 The physiological aim is to
reduce oxygenation of peripheral tissues to preserve cerebral and myocardial

118
119
Chapter 21: Prolonged Decelerations and Bradycardia 119
oxygenation (intense peripheral vasoconstriction) as well as to reduce myocardial

workload (prolonged deceleration). Although these mechanisms exist to protect the
central organs from hypoxic injury during an acute hypoxic or hypotensive insult,
prolongation of deceleration may result in cardiac and neurological damage due to a
reduction of perfusion pressure.
• Anaerobic metabolism takes place in vasoconstricted peripheral tissues with
progressive lactic acid build-up and metabolic acidosis. In addition, carbon dioxide
cannot be eliminated through the placenta during periods of reduced placental blood
flow, causing a respiratory acidaemia. The respiratory component of acidaemia is
rapidly eliminated when placental blood flow is restored, while metabolic acidosis takes
longer to correct.
• Whereas, in the presence of subacute hypoxia, fetal pH levels fall at a rate of 0.01 per 2–
3 minutes, during a period of acute hypoxia, fetal pH drops at a rate of 0.01 per minute.
Increasing levels of fetal acidaemia will eventually lead to a disruption of cellular
enzymes, tissue injury and death.
• With a significant reduction in heart rate, there must be a fall in cardiac output,
whatever the cause, since the fetus does not have the capacity to increase stroke volume
to compensate.3 Peripheral vasoconstriction is an early response that enables the fetus
to maintain near-normal levels of cerebral and myocardial blood flow in the early
stages, but if the insult persists, these mechanisms will fail.
• The fetus prioritizes myocardial flow over cerebral blood flow, so the next CTG change
to be observed will be reduced or absent variability as the fetal autonomic nervous
system is compromised. As blood flow to the myocardium then fails, myocardial
function will depend on glycogenolysis, and once the glycogen stores are depleted, the
myocardium will also begin to fail.
• This period of time that will result in central organ decompensation will clearly be
shorter in a growth-restricted fetus with lower glycogen stores.
• The presence of acute prolonged fall in heart rate requires rapid intervention from the
care team. This does not mean that the response to every prolonged deceleration should
be immediate delivery, and indeed the majority of prolonged decelerations will respond
completely to simple conservative measures before either the brain or the myocardium
is compromised.
• Having a well-practiced protocol for the management of prolonged decelerations
will help avoid unnecessary interventions and distress for the patient while enabling
the team to identify quickly those fetuses that will not respond to conservative
measures.
Causes of Prolonged Decelerations

The first priority in the management of a prolonged deceleration is to establish the underly-
ing cause as quickly as possible to facilitate appropriate management. To this end, it is useful
to classify the causes as reversible and nonreversible (see Table 21.1).
Nonreversible Causes of Prolonged Decelerations

• There are three important nonreversible causes of acute hypoxia (prolonged
decelerations) that require immediate delivery. Once a nonreversible cause is identified,
120
120 Chapter 21: Prolonged Decelerations and Bradycardia
Table 21.1 Causes of prolonged decelerations
Reversible Nonreversible
Hypotension Placental abruption
Excessive uterine activity Cord prolapse
Sustained umbilical cord compression Uterine rupture
it is not appropriate to delay even 2 or 3 minutes to await recovery of the CTG, and
delivery must be accomplished by the safest and most expeditious route.
• These three nonreversible events are cord prolapse, placental abruption and uterine
rupture. In these situations, the compromise to fetal oxygenation is profound and
cannot be reversed by any conservative measures (except in umbilical cord prolapse
where acute tocolysis may relieve the compression of umbilical cord during uterine
contractions). The immediate examination of the patient to identify these causes should
occur simultaneously with intrauterine resuscitation measures (left lateral position,
fluids, stopping oxytocin).
• Any assessment of the mother should start with the ABC (airway, breathing,
circulation) approach and include action to correct any abnormality in maternal
oxygenation or cardiovascular stability. Any condition that causes compromise
to maternal oxygenation may also cause acute hypoxia in the fetus; however, the
management of these conditions is out of the scope of this chapter. Maternal
resuscitation takes priority and, in the context of a primarily maternal condition,
should be all that is necessary to restore fetal oxygenation.
• Abdominal examination should take particular note of the tone of uterus, descent of
fetal head or presence of fetal parts. A vaginal examination is necessary to rule out cord
prolapse, to assess vaginal bleeding, receding presenting part and cervical dilatation
should an emergency delivery be indicated.
• If any nonreversible cause of acute hypoxia is identified, delivery should be immediate,
and this would usually be by caesarean section. Although, according to the NICE
classification of urgency, a category 1 caesarean section should accomplish delivery
<30 minutes in the setting of acute hypoxia with an irreversible cause, delivery after
15 minutes is associated with worsening fetal acidaemia and greater likelihood of
admission to the neonatal unit.
Reversible Causes of Prolonged Decelerations

Maternal Hypotension
• Hypotension may occur in labour due to vagal stimulation, dehydration or peripheral
vasodilatation associated with the administration of regional anaesthesia or a
combination of all of these. In the assessment of a patient in the context of a prolonged
deceleration, it is imperative to assess the blood pressure immediately and institute
measures to correct hypotension.
• The supine position should be avoided for labouring women because of the association
with aortocaval compression and associated reduced venous return and myocardial and
placental perfusion.
121
Management of Hypotension
• Place the mother in left lateral position.
• Fluid resuscitation (in the setting of dehydration or acute hypotension after regional
anaesthesia administration).
Excessive Uterine Activity (Tachysystole)

• Tachysystole is defined as excessive frequency of contractions with more than five
contractions in 10 minutes for at least 20 minutes or averaged over 30 minutes. This
will not always cause fetal hypoxia, and indeed many well-grown fetuses with adequate
placental reserves will tolerate prolonged periods of tachysystole.
• Uterine hyperstimulation is the presence of CTG changes associated with tachysystole.
In the event of CTG changes associated with prolonged hypertonic contractions or
tachysystole, particularly during oxytocin administration, action should be taken to
reduce the frequency and strength of uterine contractions.
• The first action should be to stop administration of any exogenous oxytocin (or
removal of prostaglandins). In the presence of minor CTG changes –for example a
rise in baseline or progressively longer decelerations with evidence of chemoreceptor
activation –this may be sufficient.
• In severe acute or subacute hypoxia (including prolonged decelerations), acute
tocolysis is often of benefit in rapidly restoring placental perfusion and reversing fetal
hypoxia. Because tocolytics must be administered rapidly in the setting of a prolonged
deceleration, it is recommended that the medication be stored in an easy-to-access
area together with all the necessary equipment for administration. In our unit, a clearly
marked emergency pack containing 250 μg terbutaline, a needle, syringe and cotton
wool is centrally available and has been useful in reducing time to administration.
• Agents suitable for acute tocolysis include β-sympathomimetics such as terbutaline
and ritodrine.4 Because these drugs have been associated with maternal cardiac side
effects when used for tocolysis for preterm labour, some alternatives have been trialled.
There is some evidence that atosiban, a competitive oxytocin receptor antagonist
that is commonly used in the treatment of preterm labour, may also be of benefit in
acute tocolysis.5,6 There is little evidence that magnesium sulphate has a role in acute
tocolysis. Nitroglycerine may also be used, but is less effective than terbutaline and is
more likely to provoke maternal hypotension.7
• There may be concern regarding the use of tocolytics immediately before delivery
because the uterine relaxant effect could theoretically increase the risk of postpartum
haemorrhage. While there is little evidence on the blood loss in deliveries where acute
tocolysis has been used in labour for fetal compromise, in the case of tocolysis with
terbutaline used to prolong pregnancies affected by placenta praevia, no significant
difference in blood loss has been demonstrated.8 In our clinical experience, no
additional measures beyond routine oxytocics are required after delivery. If there is no
response to oxytocics, 1 mg of propranolol may be administered to reverse the uterine
relaxant effect of terbutaline.
• After the administration of an acute tocolytic, signs of improvement in the CTG may be
anticipated within 2–5 minutes. This may simply be a return of normal variability and
need not be a complete return to baseline. In certain circumstances, a second dose may
122
be appropriate. The team should remain on standby to perform an emergency delivery

until it is clear that the CTG has normalized.
Management of Uterine Hyperstimulation

• Intrauterine resuscitation
• Stop oxytocin administration
• Acute tocolysis (e.g. with 250 μg subcutaneous terbutaline)
CTG Parameters That Predict Recovery of

• The majority of prolonged decelerations with a reversible cause will respond to
conservative measures before delivery is indicated, and so the approach to the patient
should be reassuring. The CTG features prior to and during deceleration are related
to the chance of recovery, and familiarity with these features can help identify which
patients really need to be transferred to the operating theatre and which can safely be
managed in the delivery room.
• The preceding normal variability on the CTG trace is of importance because it may give
information regarding the oxygenation of the fetus prior to the onset of current insult.
In the case of a normal CTG with a stable baseline and normal variability, the risk of
fetal hypoxia is low; therefore, it can be assumed that the fetus is starting from a normal
acid–base balance. Conversely, if the preceding CTG showed evidence of fetal hypoxia
with a rising baseline and reducing variability, it indicates that the fetus will not tolerate
a long period of acute hypoxia.
• The variability on the CTG corresponds to the integrity of fetal autonomic nervous
system, and in most cases variability is preserved in the first minutes of prolonged
deceleration because cerebral oxygenation is maintained by the redistribution of
cardiac output. If there is normal variability in the 3 minutes before deceleration and in
the first 3 minutes of deceleration, then it is highly likely that the FHR will recover –90
per cent in 6 minutes and 95 per cent in 9 minutes.
• Conversely, if there is reduced variability before prolonged deceleration, then even after
recovery, as many as 44 per cent of fetuses may be compromised, and consideration
should be given to delivery after consideration of the wider clinical picture.
Assessment of CTG Parameters

In a prolonged deceleration with a previously normal CTG and normal variability in the first
3 minutes of deceleration, recovery can safely be anticipated. In the presence of a preceding
abnormal CTG, particularly with reduced variability, preparations for emergency delivery
should be made.
When Should Delivery Occur?

• In the absence of nonreversible causes and after the institution of conservative
measures for intrauterine resuscitation, the key clinical decision to be made is whether
or not to initiate delivery, usually by caesarean section, unless the second stage of
labour is well advanced and rapid instrumental delivery is possible.
123
Figure 21.1 The '3,6,9,12,15' Rule.

• Call for help
3
• Interventions to improve oxygenation

6
• Move to the theatre

9
• Prepare for delivery

12
• Accomplish delivery
15
• It is important to note that even moving the mother to the operating room and
preparing for an emergency caesarean section should never preclude stepping down
in the event of improvement in the CTG and that this should be communicated to the
parents during the transfer process.
• The historical rule of thumb for timing of intervention has been the ‘3-6-9-12’ rule
(Figure 21.1). This has the advantage of being easily remembered in an emergency and
encouraging timely transfer to theatre in the event of a severe prolonged deceleration;
however, it does not encourage clinicians to consider the underlying cause of acute
hypoxia.
• This can lead to overintervention in cases where the underlying cause could have been
reversed, increased maternal risks from rushed procedures and unnecessary distress
to mothers and partners. Failing to identify a cause of fetal hypoxia may also lead to a
failure to prepare the team for massive blood loss associated with placental abruption
or surgical complications associated with uterine rupture. In these nonreversible causes
of acute hypoxia, even 3 minutes delay may lead to a difference in fetal condition at
birth. It is important then to first identify the cause of prolonged deceleration so that
the rule is not inappropriately applied.
• In the absence of a nonreversible cause of acute hypoxia, over 90 per cent of prolonged
decelerations will recover by 6 minutes and 95 per cent within 9 minutes.9 This
observation is the foundation of the 3-6-9-12 rule. As has previously been discussed, in
acute hypoxia it is expected that fetal pH will fall at a rate of 0.01 per minute. Therefore,
a fetus starting with a pH of 7.3 and no other compromise would be expected to have a
pH of 7.15 after 15 minutes and 7.0 after 30 minutes of continuous acute hypoxia.
• The CTG may well show signs of recovery at 6 minutes –an attempt to return to the
baseline or an improvement in variability. In this case, with a normal preceding CTG
and with no nonreversible causes of hypoxia, it would be reasonable to delay transfer to
the operating room while continuing intrauterine resuscitation (e.g. Figure 21.1). In the
event of a continuing prolonged deceleration, particularly with reducing variability, the
3-6-9-12 rule should be applied, allowing for reassessment and change of plan at every
stage until operative delivery is actually commenced (Figure 21.2). In this situation,
the possibility of concealed abruption, an occult cord prolapse or an undiagnosed scar
dehiscence should be considered.
124
Figure 21.2 CTG showing normal baseline variability in 3 minutes before deceleration and in the first 3 minutes
of deceleration. The repetitive prolonged contractions caused by syntocinon are the cause of deceleration, and
at 6 minutes after syntocinon is stopped and terbutaline has been administered, the baseline starts to recover to
normal and is fully recovered by 10 minutes. This patient was not transferred to theatre and the labour continued
to a normal delivery.
After the Prolonged Deceleration Has Resolved

In most cases, it is appropriate to continue with the labour; however, the whole clinical pic-
ture should be carefully assessed before deciding to proceed. In the presence of ongoing
hypoxic changes on the CTG, particularly in the context of chorioamnionitis or in the pres-
ence of meconium, it may be appropriate to consider delivery, especially if there are concerns
regarding the progress of labour. In general, if the features observed on the CTG trace after
recovery are similar to those seen before deceleration, it is appropriate to continue labour.
When Is It Safe to Restart Oxytocin?

It is often the case that tachysystole occurs as the endogenous production of and sensitivity
to oxytocin increases as labour progresses and there may be no need to restart exogenous
oxytocin infusions. If augmentation with oxytocin is necessary in order to continue the
labour, there should be clear evidence of fetal well-being in the form of normal variability
and a stable baseline before restarting an oxytocin infusion, and it should be restarted at a
lower infusion rate than that being used previously.
Suggested Approach to Management of Prolonged Decelerations

1. Assess the patient for nonreversible causes while commencing conservative measures.
(If found deliver immediately)
2. Assess the CTG for features that predict recovery
125
3. Treat reversible causes –consider fluid administration, stop oxytocin and consider

acute tocolysis
4. Reassess the CTG and clinical picture
Management of Prolonged Decelerations
ABCassessment
Identify likely
Abdominal examination
cause of
Vaginal examination
hypoxia
Assess CTG variability
Conservative measures:
change position and
Nonreversible cause
correct hypotension.
Management identified: expedite
delivery immediately
Stop oxytocin and
consider acute tocolysis
If prolonged deceleration
Ifrecovered to baseline
persists or reduced
continue CTG and
Reassess variability develops
conservative measures
despite conservative
and consider whole
measures prepare for
clinical picture.
delivery
Figure 21.3
Management of Fetal Bradycardia

A fetal bradycardia is a baseline value <110 bpm for >10 minutes. This could occur in the
setting of acute hypoxia that lasts for >10 minutes, in which case the onset would be sudden
and a cause would usually be identifiable and management would be as described earlier.
There are many other causes of a sustained baseline heart rate <110 bpm and careful con-
sideration of these causes should be made if the CTG pattern is not in keeping with an acute
deceleration.
A FHR of 100–110 bpm may be normal, particularly in a postdates fetus. In this case
variability will be normal, accelerations are likely to be present and the baseline is likely to be
consistent with previous fetal heart measurements. No further intervention is required and
in fact if no other risk factors exist this is not an indication for continuous EFM in labour.
Other causes for fetal bradycardia include placental transfer of maternal medica-
tions, particularly beta-adrenoceptor blockers.10 Beta-blockers depress the activity of the
126
sympathetic nervous system that would normally tend to increase the FHR. They may also
be associated with a reduction in variability, however it would be expected that the vari-
ability would not be entirely absent (often described as ‘pencil tip’) and accelerations, while
reduced in amplitude, would be expected to be present.
Fetal arrhythmias, particularly complete heart block, may appear on CTG as a profound
bradycardia. Congenital heart block is associated with a significant risk of mortality but
is rare, and the detailed management is out of the scope of this chapter. The bradycardia
in this case does not represent acute compromise, however over time the lowered cardiac
output and volume overload may cause myocardial damage, dilated cardiomyopathy and
impaired ventricular systolic function.11 The worst outcomes are seen with rates <50–55
bpm.12 Diagnosis and delivery planning require assessment by a fetal medicine specialist.
Common Pitfalls
Failure to identify underlying cause of prolonged deceleration/bradycardia is the most
common mistake made. As highlighted above, this may lead to inappropriate
intervention, including major surgery on the mother and equally may lead to a lack
of preparation for serious obstetric emergencies.
Failure to use acute tocolysis when uterine hyperstimulation is the cause of fetal hypoxia. In
uterine hyperstimulation, one may well do a caesarean section and deliver a baby with
a cord pH of 7.01 and then may congratulate the team on a disaster averted. Instead,
an obstetrician should aim to be able to congratulate himself/herself on achieving a
normal delivery with normal gases and maintaining one’s own blood pressure in the
normal range by a simple administration of terbutaline (to the mother) to treat uterine
hyperstimulation so as to continue labour.
Failure to reassess the situation. Failure to stop a caesarean section when the CTG has
become reassuring is common and may lead to entirely unnecessary surgery with
significant consequences for the mother. Additionally, the fetus that is delivered only
minutes after recovering from a significant period of hypoxia is likely to be in worse
condition at birth than one with time to recover. Equally, clinging to the hope that
the CTG will recover after 10 minutes when there are no signs of improvement is an
unnecessary and dangerous delay for the fetus.
Exercise
1. A primigravida is induced at 41 + 5 weeks of gestation for postdates after a normal
pregnancy. The CTG up to this point has been entirely normal with a baseline rate of
130 bpm and variability of 5–15 bpm. At 11:49, a deceleration begins and the attending
midwife appropriately moves the mother into the left lateral position.
You are called to the room at 11:54.
a. What are the first steps you would take to assess the patient?
b. What is the likely cause of this prolonged deceleration?
c. What would your management be?
d. What features on the CTG are reassuring?
e. What features on the CTG are concerning?
Now consider the trace again (Figure 21.5).
127
Figure 21.4
Figure 21.5 CTG trace from 11:55 to 11:56.

128
Figure 21.6 CTG trace after administration of terbutaline.
f. What phenomenon is demonstrated at 11:55–11:56?

g. Terbutaline is administered at 11:57. At 11:58 what would your next action be?
Figure 21.6 shows the full trace indicating first recovery of the baseline and second
restoration of normal variability suggesting an intact neurological system. The toco-
graph clearly demonstrates that the uterine activity has been temporarily abolished.
h. What might you expect to see next on the CTG?
References of atosiban versus hexoprenaline for acute

tocolysis and intrauterine resuscitation.
1. Mocsáry P, Gaál J, Komáromy B, Mihály BJOG. 2004 Apr;111(4):316–8.
G, Pohánka O, Surányi S. Relationship 6. de Heus R, Mulder EJH, Derks JB, Kurver
between fetal intracranial pressure PHJ, van Wolfswinkel L, Visser GHA.
and fetal heart rate during labor. Am A prospective randomized trial of acute
J Obstet Gynecol. Elsevier; 1970 Jan tocolysis in term labour with atosiban or
2;106(3):407–11. ritodrine. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol.
2. Giussani DA, Spencer JA, Moore PJ, 2008 Aug;139(2):139–45.
Bennet L, Hanson MA. Afferent and 7. Pullen KM, Riley ET, Waller SA, Taylor
efferent components of the cardiovascular L, Caughey AB, Druzin ML, et al.
reflex responses to acute hypoxia in term Randomized comparison of intravenous
fetal sheep. J Physiol. 1993 Feb;461:431–49. terbutaline vs nitroglycerin for acute
3. Thornburg KL, Morton MJ. Filling and intrapartum fetal resuscitation. Am J
arterial pressures as determinants of left Obstet Gynecol. 2007 Oct;197(4):414.e1–6.
ventricular stroke volume in fetal lambs. 8. Besinger RE, Moniak CW, Paskiewicz
Am J Physiol Hear Circ Physiol. 1986 Nov LS, Fisher SG, Tomich PG. The effect
1;251(5):H961–8. of tocolytic use in the management
4. Chandraharan E, Arulkumaran S. Acute of symptomatic placenta previa. Am J
tocolysis. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2005 Obstet Gynecol. 1995 Jun;172(6):1770–5;
Apr;17(2):151–6. discussion 1775–8.
5. Afschar P, Schöll W, Bader A, Bauer M, 9. Chandraharan E, Arulkumaran S.
Winter R. A prospective randomised trial Prevention of birth asphyxia: responding
129
appropriately to cardiotocograph (CTG) of children with fetal, neonatal or

traces. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. childhood diagnosis of isolated congenital
Elsevier; 2007 Aug 8;21(4):609–24. atrioventricular block. A single institution’s
10. Boutroy MJ. Fetal and neonatal effects experience of 30 years. J Am Coll Cardiol.
of the beta-adrenoceptor blocking 2002 Jan 2;39(1):130–7.
agents. Dev Pharmacol Ther. 1987 13. Gull I, Jaffa AJ, Oren M, Grisaru D, Peyser
Jan;10(3):224–31. MR, Lessing JB. Acid accumulation during
11. Donofrio MT, Gullquist SD, Mehta ID, end-stage bradycardia in term fetuses: how
Moskowitz WB. Congenital complete heart long is too long? Br J Obstet Gynaecol. 1996
block: fetal management protocol, review Nov;103(11):1096–101.
of the literature, and report of the smallest 14. WILLIAMS K. Fetal heart rate
successful pacemaker implantation. J parameters predictive of neonatal
Perinatol. 2004 Jan 22;24(2):112–7. outcome in the presence of a prolonged
12. Jaeggi ET, Hamilton RM, Silverman ED, deceleration. Obstet Gynecol. 2002
Zamora SA, Hornberger LK. Outcome Nov;100(5):951–4.
130
ST-Analyser (STAN)
Chapter
22 Principles and Physiology

Key Facts
• A recent systematic review of randomized controlled trials has concluded that the use
of STAN reduced the incidence of use of fetal blood sampling and metabolic acidosis.
• STAN has been shown to reduce the interobserver variation when indicating
interventions in the presence of intermediate or abnormal CTG traces.
• The principle of STAN is to assess the oxygenation of a central organ (the fetal heart). It
helps to differentiate between a fetus that is exposed to hypoxic stress but compensating
well and maintaining a good oxygenation in the myocardium from the fetus that
switches to anaerobic metabolism in the myocardium and depends on catecholamine-
mediated glycogenolysis to respond to negative energy balance in the myocardium.
• The fetal ECG is monitored through a fetal scalp electrode. As soon as it is applied,
the STAN machine calculates (over 4–5 minutes) the normal T/QRS ratio for that
particular fetus and establishes it as the ‘baseline value’. From this moment, the
machine analyses every 30 ECG complexes (i.e. if baseline fetal heart rate (FHR) is 150
bpm, there would be five analyses in 1 minute) and compares them with the original
‘baseline value’. Each of them is recorded on the CTG trace as a cross (‘X’). When the
analysed ECG complexes differ significantly from ‘baseline value’, it will be flagged up
as an ‘ST event’.
• In the presence of an ‘ST event’, it is necessary to classify the CTG trace according to
STAN guidelines (normal, intermediate or abnormal) first and then to determine if
the ‘ST event’ is significant and requires any action. Conversely, if the ST event is not
significant, no further action is required at this time.
Key Features on the STAN

Please see Figure 22.1.
• There are three types of ‘ST events’: episodic T/QRS rise, baseline T/QRS rise and
biphasic events.
• ‘Episodic T/QRS rise’ event appears when the T/QRS ratio rises in response to a short-
lasting hypoxia for <10 minutes. The significance depends on the magnitude of rise and
classification of the CTG trace. If the CTG trace is classified as normal, the ST event
is not significant as it can be secondary to fetal movements and resultant release of

130
131
Chapter 22: ST-Analyser: Principles and Physiology 131
Figure 22.1 STAN trace showing ST event (black box), event log (left-hand column) and crosses (‘x’) –each ‘x’
(oval) represents 30 fetal ECG complexes.
catecholamine-mediated myocardial glycogenolysis; if the CTG trace is intermediate, a

greater increase in the T/QRS ratio is allowed before it becomes significant than if the
CTG trace is classified as abnormal.
• ‘Baseline T/QRS rise’ indicates a longer-lasting hypoxia (>10 minutes) with the
resultant increase in the T/QRS ratio persisting for >10 minutes. The magnitude of rise
is shown on the screen (event log), and the significance depends again on magnitude
and classification of the CTG trace.
• ‘Biphasic ST’ appears when there is a shift in the ST segment. There are three degrees of
biphasic ST events (grades 1–3). Repetitive grade 2 and 3 biphasic events are significant
in the presence of an intermediate or abnormal trace as they may reflect instability
of the myocardial membrane secondary to hypoxia and resultant changes in the
morphology of ST segment of the fetal ECG complex.
• Event log indicates documentation by clinicians (e.g. vaginal examination, blood
pressure monitoring, administration of oxytocin) as well as by the computer (e.g. type
and magnitude of ST events, loss of contact).
Key Pathophysiology behind Patterns Seen

on the CTG Trace
• The fetal ECG reflects the oxygenation of a central organ, the myocardium, which is the
last organ to fail when a fetus is exposed to hypoxia.
• Physiology behind ‘T/QRS ST events’: The fetus releases catecholamines (emergency
hormone) that increase the FHR and also activate ‘glycogenolysis’ in the myocardium to
increase the glucose available for the heart to function. The process of ‘glycogenolysis’
results in a release of potassium ions which have been stored within glycogen, and the
resultant ‘hyperkalemia’ produces a rise in ‘T waves’ and an increase on ‘T/QRS ratio’.
This phenomenon results in ‘T/QRS ST events’.
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132 Chapter 22: ST-Analyser: Principles and Physiology
• Physiology behind ‘biphasic ST events’: The ST segment reflects the refractory period

(isoelectric) after depolarization (myocardial contraction) and before repolarization
when there is no transfer of ions through the myocardial cells. In the presence of
a disturbance to the myocardial pump function (secondary to hypoxia, infection,
prematurity or cardiac defects), the ST segment shifts upwards or downwards resulting
on a biphasic ‘ST event’, reflecting myocardial membrane dysfunction.
• In the presence of a normal CTG trace, any ‘ST events’ can be managed with expectant
management, as they are not significant at this stage. Most commonly, they are
secondary to fetal movements that also release catecholamines.
• In the presence of a preterminal trace, delivery should be expedited regardless of the
presence or absence of ‘ST events’.
• In the presence of a significant ST event during the first or passive second stage of
labour, interventions to improve utero-placental oxygenation need to be instituted.
These include stopping oxytocin infusion, administration of intravenous fluids,
postural changes and/or acute tocolysis (terbutaline) to improve fetal oxygenation.
If the changes observed on the CTG improve and/or there are no further ST events,
labour can be allowed to continue. If there are further significant ST events, CTG
should be reclassified, and if the ST-events are significant and if no further conservative
measures are possible, then immediate delivery (within 20 minutes) is indicated.
• During active second stage of labour, any significant ST event should be managed
with immediate operative delivery (by the safest and quickest mode of birth) as soon
as possible unless spontaneous vaginal delivery is expected in the following 5 to 10
minutes.
• CTG changes and ST events should always be correlated with the clinical picture
(presence of meconium, chorioamnionitis, vaginal bleeding, growth restriction).
Immediate delivery may be indicated in the presence of any of these risk factors
regardless of the significance of ST events.

• Remember STAN can only be used in fetuses >36 weeks of gestational age as the
endocardial–epicardial interphase may be underdeveloped and interfere with signal
conduction leading to multiple ST events (most commonly biphasic ST events). For the
same reason, it cannot be used in fetuses with structural cardiac defects.
• In the presence of infection, any ST event, even in the presence of an intermediary
trace, may be regarded as significant.
• If, when applying the fetal scalp electrode, repetitive ST events appear, ensure that
fetal presentation is cephalic. If the fetus is presenting by breech, ECG complexes
will be inverted and the machine interprets this as repeated biphasic ST events due to
perceived inversion of ST-segment of the fetal ECG complex (i.e. will be recorded as a
negative wave). If a decision is made to continue labour in anticipation of an assisted
vaginal breech delivery, then the STAN machine has a ‘breech mode’ to invert the
ECG complex so that biphasic events can be stopped and the fetus can be continuously
monitored using the STAN technology.
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Chapter 22: ST-Analyser: Principles and Physiology 133
Common Pitfalls
• Relying on STAN in the presence of chorioamnionitis. The STAN is a test of hypoxia
and not for infection. In the presence of an infection, there may not be any ST events
until the very final stages when the infection is affecting the oxygenation to central
organs (i.e. fetal myocardium leading to myocarditis).
• Chorioamnionitis may lead to repeated biphasic ST events due to the inflammatory
damage to myocardial membrane. In this case, the CTG may not show significant
decelerations, and a high index of clinical suspicion of ongoing chorioamnionitis
should be exercised and labour should be managed accordingly.
• Applying the STAN in the absence of a stable baseline heart rate and a reassuring
variability. The STAN device calculates the normal ECG complex for each fetus during
the first 4–5 minutes. It is not possible to rely on STAN when it is applied during
ongoing subacute hypoxia with a loss of a stable baseline and/or reassuring variability
• Erroneous monitoring of the maternal heart rate (MHR) as FHR. When MHR is being
monitored, the P-waves would be absent on the ECG complexes as the signal (maternal
P-wave) is not powerful enough to be transmitted to the fetal scalp electrode.
• Unnecessary interventions for a normal CTG trace when ST events are flagged up or
lack of intervention on a preterminal trace in the absence of ST events.
• Unnecessary interventions (operative delivery) due to nonadherence to STAN
guidelines
• Stillbirth
• Neonatal death
• Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy and subsequent cerebral palsy
• Neonatal sepsis –when relying on STAN and ignoring signs of ongoing clinical
chorioamnionitis
Recent Developments
• A large multicentre randomized controlled trial from the United States of America in
2015 reported that the use of STAN did not reduce operative delivery rates.7 However,
the limitation of this study, including the incorrect classification system which has
been used in the study group has been highlighted in a recent editorial.8 A recent meta-
analysis of six randomized controlled trials on STAN comprising of 26446 women,
including the US Trial, has still concluded that the use of STAN is associated with a
36% reduction in metabolic acidosis, which was statistically significant.9 In addition,
there was a statistically significant reduction in operative vaginal delivery rate as well as
the rate of fetal scalp blood sampling.
Therefore, in the authors’ opinion based on published systematic evidence, compared to other
adjunctive tests (i.e. pulse oximetry, fetal scalp pH and lactate), which have been shown to
have no robust scientific evidence of benefit, STAN is the only adjunctive test which has been
shown to be beneficial in 2016 (i.e. a statistically significant reduction in metabolic acidosois,
fetal blood sampling and operative vaginal births). However, training in fetal physiology prior
to introducing STAN is essential to maximize its benefits and to minimize harm.
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134 Chapter 22: ST-Analyser: Principles and Physiology
Further Reading of intrapartum ST analysis of the fetal

electrocardiogram in women monitored by
1. Chandraharan E. STAN: an introduction STAN. BJOG. 2009;116(4):545–51.
to its use, limitations and caveats. Obs Gyn 6. Olofsson P, Ayres-de-Campos D, Kessler
Midwifery Prod News. 2010. Sep 2: 18-22. J, Tendal B, Yli BM, Devoe L. A critical
2. Neilson JP. Fetal electrocardiogram appraisal of the evidence for using
(ECG) for fetal monitoring during labour. cardiotocography plus ECG ST interval
Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006;3: Art. analysis for fetal surveillance in labor. Part
No.: CD000116. DOI:10.1002/14651858. II: the meta-analyses. Acta Obstet Gynecol
CD000116.pub2. Scand. 2014;93(6):571–86.
3. Amer-Wåhlin I, Hellsten C, Norén H, 7. Belfort MA, Saade GR, Thom E, Blackwell
Hagberg H, Herbst A, Kjellmer I, Lilja SC, Reddy UM, Thorp JM Jr, et al.
H, Lindoff C, Månsson M, Mårtensson A Randomized Trial of Intrapartum Fetal
L, Olofsson P, Sundström AK, Marál ECG ST-Segment Analysis. N Engl J Med.
K. Cardiotocography only versus 2015;373:632–41.
cardiotocography plus ST analysis of 8. Bhide A, Chandraharan E, Acharya
fetal electrocardiogram for intrapartum G. Fetal monitoring in labor: Implications
fetal monitoring: a Swedish randomised of evidence generated by new systematic
controlled trial. Lancet. 2001;358:534–8. review. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2016
4. Antonia C, Ayres-de-Campos D, Fernanda Jan;95(1):5–8.
C, Cristina S, Joao B. Prediction of 9. Blix E, Brurberg KG, Reierth E, Reinar
neonatal acidemia by computer analysis of LM, Øian P. STwaveform analysis vs.
fetal heart rate and ST event signals. Am J cardiotocography alone for intrapartum
Obstet Gynecol. 2009;201:464e1–6. fetal monitoring: A systematic review and
5. Westerhuis ME, van Horen E, Kwee A, meta-analysis of randomized trials. Acta
van der Tweel I, Visser GH, Moons KG. Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2015;95:16–27.
Inter-and intra-observer agreement
135
ST-Analyser
Chapter
23 Case Examples and Pitfalls

Key Principles
• ST-Analyser (STAN) is only validated for monitoring fetuses >36 + 0 weeks of gestation
and should not be used in fetuses <35 weeks + 6 days of gestation.
• Contraindications to the application of fetal scalp electrode (e.g. any maternal infection
with increased risk of vertical transmission through a defect in the fetal skin and fetal
haemorrhagic disorders which may increase the risk of scalp haemorrhage) should be
excluded.
• Fetus should retain the capacity to respond to evolving intrapartum hypoxic stress
(i.e. should have a stable baseline fetal heart rate (FHR) and a reassuring variability
indicative of good oxygenation of the central organs).
• STAN should not be commenced in the presence of an unstable baseline FHR (i.e.
myocardial hypoxia), reduced baseline variability with preceding decelerations
(hypoxia to the central nervous system) or in the presence of a preterminal trace
indicative of total loss of the ability to respond to hypoxia.
• STAN is a test to detect intrapartum hypoxia. However, other pathways of fetal
neurological damage (e.g. meconium aspiration syndrome, chorioamnionitis and
inflammatory brain damage) should be considered while using STAN.
• CTG should be classified (Table 23.1) and STAN guidelines (Table 23.2) should be
used while using STAN in clinical practice. Algorithms such as the ‘6C’ approach
(Figure 23.1) may aid in management.
Case 1. Commencement of STAN

The CTG trace shows a stable baseline FHR and a reassuring baseline variability prior to
commencement of STAN. Appearance of ‘crosses’ or ‘x’ below the tocograph indicates that
the analysis of fetal ECG has commenced (Figure 23.2). The ‘event log’ indicates that the
‘baseline T/QRS was determined at 18:36 hours’. Therefore, it is appropriate to rely on STAN
from this time onwards.
Each ‘x’ represents an average of 30 ECG complexes, and therefore, 4 ‘x’s are seen in a box
(1 minute) because baseline FHR is 140 bpm (30 × 4 = 120).
STAN requires approximately 120 ‘x’s (i.e. approximately 4 minutes if baseline FHR is
120 bpm) to calculate a baseline T/QRS ratio for an individual fetus. Subsequently, it com-
pares the average of 30 ECG complexes with this original baseline T/QRS ratio as well as the

135
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136 Chapter 23: ST-Analyser: Case Examples and Pitfalls
Table 23.1 STAN guidelines: classification of the CTG trace
Cardiotocographic Baseline heart Variability

classification frequency reactivity Decelerations
Normal 110–150 bpm 5–25 bpm Early decelerations
accelerations Uncomplicated variable
decelerations with
a duration of
<60 seconds and a beat loss of
<60 bpm
Intermediary* 100–110 bpm >25 bpm without Uncomplicated variable
150–170 bpm accelerations decelerations with
Short bradycardia <5 bpm for >40 a duration of
episode min <60 seconds and a beat loss of
>60 bpm
Abnormal 150–170 bpm <5 bpm for >60 Repeated late decelerations
and reduced variability minutes Complicated variable
>170 bpm Sinusoidal pattern decelerations with
a duration of
>60 seconds
Preterminal Total lack of variability and reactivity with or without decelerations or bradycardia
*Combination of several intermediary observations will result in an abnormal CTG.
Table 23.2 STAN guidelines: interpretation of ST events
ST events Episodic T/QRS rise Baseline T/QRS rise Biphasic ST

Normal CTG Expectant management and continued observation
Intermediary CTG >0.15 >0.10 3 biphasic log messages
Abnormal CTG >0.10 >0.05 2 biphasic log messages
Preterminal CTG Immediate delivery
ST segment of the fetal ECG to determine whether there is a significant change in the T/QRS
ratio or the ST Segment.
In addition, to ensure adequate ECG signals, crosses (‘x’) should not be absent continu-
ously for >4 minutes and there should be a minimum of 10 ‘x’s in any 10-minute period.
Case 2. STAN Events on a Normal CTG Trace

Repeated fetal movements can result in fetal catecholamine surge as a part of ‘startle
response’ leading to glycogenolysis in the myocardium to release extra energy. This results in
the release of potassium ions stored within glycogen into the myocardial cells as glycogen is
broken down to glucose to provide extra energy substrate for the myocardial cell. Increased
intracellular myocardial potassium level leads to tall ‘T’ waves on the ECG complexes and
the generation of ST event (Figure 23.3).
Such false-positive ST events are common with repeated fetal movements, especially if
there is a confluence of accelerations (Figure 23.3). No intervention is required as the CTG
trace is entirely normal with no evidence of ongoing hypoxia (Table 23.2).
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Chapter 23: ST-Analyser: Case Examples and Pitfalls 137
Check
• Gestational Age > 36 +0 weeks
• No Contraindications for FSE (e.g. infections)
• Not in active second stage of labour with an abnormal trace
• Absence of Acute intrapartum accidents, sinusoidal pattern or chronic hypoxia
• Fetus has a stable baseline fetal heart rate and reassuring variability
Consider Wider Clinical Picture

• Thick Meconium staining of amniotic fluid
• Clinical or subclinical chorioamnionitis
• Presence of a uterine scar – uterine rupture is unpredictable
• Evidence of feto-maternal haemorrhage (Atypical Sinusoidal Pattern)
• Failure to progress in labour
• Fetal Cardiac Malformations
Classify CTG
• Normal
• Intermediary or Abnormal but the fetus has a stable baseline fetal heart rate and reassuring variability
If the CTG is Preterminal, an immediate delivery is required
ST Events Whilst Monitoring
Correlate Type and Magnitude of ST Events with the CTG Trace

• Episodic T/QRS (>0.05 or > 0.10)
• Baseline T/QRS (>0.10 or > 0.15)
• Biphasic Events (2 or 3 Messages)
• Non-Significant ST Event – continue observation
• Significant – Immediate Corrective Action
Corrective Action
• Stop Oxytocin infusion
• Change Maternal Position
• Administer intravenous fluids
• Consider Tocolysis if appropriate
• Stop maternal active pushing if evidence of subacute hypoxia
Cascade
Immediate Delivery in cases of
• Preterminal CTG Traces
• Acute intrapartum Accidents (Abruption, Umbilical Cord Prolapse, acute feto-maternal
haemorrhage or Uterine Rupture)
• Failure of conservative measures to correct abnormalities on the CTG Trace
• Significant ST Events in Active second stage of labour
Figure 23.1 Suggested algorithm: 6C approach for use of STAN in clinical practice.

138
Figure 23.2 Stable baseline and reassuring baseline variability at the commencement of STAN monitoring. Note
the event log.
Figure 23.3 ‘Episodic’ ST events secondary to repeated fetal movements. Note the abrupt increase in ‘x’s
coinciding with the ST events confirming that there was an abrupt increase in the height of ‘T’ wave of fetal ECG
due to intracellular release of potassium secondary to catecholamine-mediated glycogenolysis.
Case 3. Nonsignificant ‘Episodic’ STAN Events

Even if the STAN generates ST events, no action is needed if the magnitude of the event does
not meet the threshold for intervention (Table 23.2). Therefore, every ST event that is noted
on the monitor does not require an intervention.
The onset of maternal active pushing may result in the development of hypoxia within 10
minutes, leading to the generation of an ST event (Figure 23.4). However, even if the mag-
nitude of episodic T/QRS event is 0.10, if the CTG trace is not abnormal, no intervention is
required. In an intermediary CTG, a higher threshold (>0.15) would be required to warrant
an intervention (Table 23.2).
139
Figure 23.4 Worsening decelerations with the onset of maternal active pushing and transient increase in the
‘x’ in response to the release of intracellular potassium ions secondary to catecholamine-mediated myocardial
glycogenolysis. The ECG complex also shows an elevation of the ST segment. However, no intervention is required
as the type and magnitude of ST event is not significant for the observed CTG changes.
Case 4. Abnormal CTG without Significant ST Events

If the CTG remains abnormal despite absence of any significant ST events, a careful assess-
ment should be made to ensure that the signal quality is adequate. In the presence of meco-
nium staining of amniotic fluid and/or ongoing infection (i.e. chorioamnionitis), coexisting
hypoxia can significantly worsen perinatal outcomes. Therefore, in the presence of deep
prolonged decelerations and baseline tachycardia (Figure 23.5) and/or loss of baseline
FHR variability, asphyxia-mediated intrapartum meconium aspiration syndrome and fetal
inflammatory brain damage may occur, despite the absence of ST events.
Clinicians should appreciate the fact that STAN is a test of hypoxia and would not predict
or diagnose meconium aspiration syndrome or diagnose ongoing inflammatory brain dam-
age secondary to clinical or subclinical chorioamnionitis. Therefore, management decisions
should be made based on the degree of CTG abnormalities noted, parity, cervical dilatation,
progress of labour, need for augmentation with oxytocin and fetal reserve.
If other risk factors are absent and the CTG is abnormal, it is appropriate to continue
labour in the absence of ST events, and conservative measures such as changing mater-
nal position to avoid umbilical cord compression may be attempted to improve the CTG.
However, in the presence of other risk factors such as thick meconium staining of amni-
otic fluid or clinical chorioamnionitis, intrapartum management should not depend on the
absence of significant ST event alone. It is recommended that in the presence of clinical
chorioamnionitis, an intermediary CTG should be upgraded to an abnormal CTG while
interpreting ST events to recognize the fact that coexisting inflammation lowers the thresh-
old at which hypoxia can damage the brain cells.
140
Figure 23.5 Ongoing complicated (or atypical) variable decelerations and increasing baseline FHR secondary
to evolving hypoxia. Although the CTG is ‘abnormal’ according to STAN guidelines, there are no ST events and the
signal quality is good (‘x’s are absent only for 2 minutes).
Case 5. Abnormal CTG with a Significant STAN Events

Any significant ST event requires an immediate intervention to improve utero-placental cir-
culation (changing maternal position, stopping oxytocin infusion with or without adminis-
tration of tocolytics and/or administration of intravenous fluids,) and if this is not possible,
an urgent delivery should be accomplished within 20 minutes of the significant ST event.
This holds true during first stage of labour and passive second stage of labour. A significant
ST event on an abnormal CTG (Figure 23.6) requires an urgent intervention. The ‘event log’
would highlight the type and magnitude of the ST event (Figure 23.6).
During active second stage of labour (i.e. after the onset of active maternal pushing),
immediate operative delivery (within 20 minutes) should be carried out, unless a spontane-
ous vaginal delivery is imminent within the next 10 minutes. This is because the evolution
of hypoxia could be very rapid during active second stage of labour. If a delay in delivery is
anticipated, maternal pushing should be stopped to rapidly improve fetal oxygenation.
If CTG has improved with conservative measures, it is appropriate to continue labour
with close observation. If there are repeated ST events, the timing of the very first ST event
should be considered in formulating a management plan. Worsening magnitude of ST events
(e.g. baseline T/QRS ratios of 0.06, 0.09, 0.11, etc.) over time would indicate a progressively
worsening hypoxic insult to the fetus, and urgent action should be taken to improve utero-
placental oxygenation, and if this is not possible or appropriate (e.g. placental abruption or
uterine rupture), an immediate operative delivery should be undertaken.
141
Figure 23.6 Abnormal CTG trace with repeated complicated (or atypical) variable decelerations lasting >60
seconds. The event log highlights baseline T/QRS ratio of 0.06, which is significant for an abnormal CTG according
to STAN guidelines.
Pitfalls with the Use of STAN

Human error with regard to CTG interpretation and appropriate classification remains the
main concern. In addition, failure to incorporate the wider clinical picture such as presence
of thick meconium staining of amniotic fluid or evidence of clinical chorioamnionitis also
may lead to poor outcomes.
Failure to adhere to STAN guidelines (commencing STAN monitoring in preterm fetuses
or fetuses with known cardiac malformations), failure to accomplish delivery within 20 min-
utes in the presence of a significant ST event or commencement of STAN monitoring in the
presence of preterminal CTG or chronic hypoxia (i.e. loss of baseline FHR variability) may
also lead to poor outcomes.
Conclusions
STAN determines oxygenation of the fetal myocardium and the capacity of the myocardium
to deal with ongoing hypoxic stress via the onset of anaerobic metabolism, catecholamine-
mediated cardiac glycogenolysis and consequent release of potassium ions within the myo-
cardial cell. If the T/QRS ratio is significantly higher than the ratio calculated within the first
4 minutes of commencement of STAN monitoring, an ST event will be generated.
Intervention should be based on the type and magnitude of ST event as well as the classifica-
tion of the CTG. Additional risk factors such as the presence of meconium staining of amniotic
fluid, evidence of ongoing chorioamnionitis, lack of progress of labour, reduced physiological
reserve of the fetus etc., should also be considered, and one should not merely rely on STAN alone.
It should be noted that if a fetus has exhausted all its reserves and does not have the
capacity to mount a compensatory response to ongoing hypoxic stress (i.e. preterminal CTG
trace), ST events may not be seen. This is because of depletion of myocardial energy stores
(i.e. glycogen) and the resultant absence of catecholamine-mediated glycogenolysis and con-
sequent absence of any further changes in ST segment or T/QRS ratio.
Further Reading
1. Chandraharan E. STAN: an introduction
to its use, limitations and caveats. Obs Gyn
Midwifery Prod News; 2010.
142
Role of a Computerized CTG
Chapter
24 Sabrina Kuah and Geoff Matthews
Introduction
Continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) was developed in the 1960s, and the CTG
became commercially available at that time. Erich Saling developed fetal blood sampling
prior to CTG, although it subsequently found a place as an adjunct to CTG, and its relevance
is now being re-evaluated. Fetal blood sampling has not been shown to reduce caesarean
section rates or any prespecified neonatal outcomes.1
The CTG has become ubiquitous in modern labour wards, while attempts to validate its
role in improving perinatal outcomes have proved challenging.
Fetal ECG has recently become available –the technique involves computerized analysis
of the fetal ST waveform and aims, in conjunction with CTG, to provide EFM with more
robust specificity and sensitivity.
The human factor has increasingly been recognized as a potential weak link in fetal moni-
toring and a variety of mitigations proposed. Even when employing standard scoring systems,
CTG suffers significantly from intra-and inter-observer variation.2 Emphasis on systema-
tized training in fetal monitoring for all clinical staff with regular credentialing has become a
feature of many delivery suites seeking standardized care. Physiologically based CTG training
has been proposed as an alternative approach to reliance on simple pattern recognition.
Computerized decision support technology has been developed with the aim of improv-
ing recognition of abnormal fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns and reducing times to effective
interventions. Preliminary findings appear encouraging, so clinicians eagerly await the com-
pletion of ongoing clinical trials into the effectiveness of this technology.2
Cardiotocography
CTG is simply the fetal heart expressed over time, displayed in the patient’s room, and
in some units, it is also monitored centrally. The heart rate, its variability, the presence or
absence of accelerations and decelerations are all assessed by the human observer and the
CTG thus interpreted. Traditionally, pattern recognition of the CTG raises suspicions of
fetal metabolic acidosis, triggering an attempt to improve the fetal environment, seek reas-
surance or expedite delivery.
CTG monitoring has become a routine part of clinical obstetric care, although its sen-
sitivity and specificity at detecting fetal metabolic acidosis is poor. The negative predictive
value of a normal CTG is in excess of 90 per cent, although the longevity of ‘reassurance’

142
143
Chapter 24: Role of a Computerized CTG 143
obtained is unclear and potentially only for the period the monitoring is ongoing. However,
the positive predictive value of an abnormal CTG is quite poor and overall CTG in labour
has a false-positive rate of around 60 per cent if acidosis is defined as pH <7.20.
The high false-positive rate of CTG has thus been implicated in the escalating rate of
caesarean section births observed in recent decades. While there has been data to suggest a
reduction in rates of neonatal seizures, there is, as yet, no level-one evidence of reduction in
rates of fetal metabolic acidosis at birth as a result of deployment of CTGs in maternity units.
Adjuncts to CTG
Fetal Blood Sampling
Fetal blood is collected from the scalp and run through a blood gas analyser to obtain a pH
and more recently a lactate reading. Management is dictated by the pH result –≤7.20 has
conventionally been used as an indication for delivery.
However, correlating peripheral acidosis detected in fetal scalp blood with central aci-
dosis is flawed since a fetus will progressively protect the central organs (brain, heart and
adrenals) at the cost of shutting down the periphery.
Fetal ECG (STAN)
See Chapter 23.
Training and Reducing Human Error

Human error and misinterpretation of CTG data contributes to poor outcomes associated
with EFM. Reviews of case series with poor perinatal outcomes have identified significant
delay in the recognition of even severe CTG abnormalities.3 Furthermore, the series sug-
gests that these delays in the recognition of abnormal CTGs are associated with outcomes
including cerebral palsy and perinatal death.4 It would appear that there is an association
with clinician seniority. Rates of perinatal mortality in the United Kingdom are significantly
increased at times of lesser senior staffing such as at night and in the summer months when
many senior staff are on leave.5
Credentialing of all staff members in a recognized CTG competency-based training pro-
gram has increasingly become the norm. The content of training may influence effective-
ness, and a physiologically based training rather than pattern recognition has been proposed
as preferable.6
The Royal Colleges are increasingly standardizing CTG training. In South Australia, all
obstetric doctors and midwives must attend and achieve competency in the Royal Australian
and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Fetal Surveillance Education
Program.
There is some evidence that intensive CTG training can at least temporarily reduce the
proportion of substandard CTG interpretation in cases of low apgars, but the improvement
seems to require continued intensive CTG training to be sustained over time.7
Computerized Decision Support

Human factors come into play around the issues of uniform recognition of abnormal CTG
patterns triggering appropriate decision points. Decision support technology allows for the
144
144 Chapter 24: Role of a Computerized CTG
Figure 24.1 Computerized CTG highlighting the onset of a ‘baseline shift’ to clinicians.
central alerting of an abnormal CTG trace to busy delivery suite staff and suggests a possible
interpretation (Figure 24.1). Most systems require attending staff to acknowledge the alert,
facilitating a forcing function for clinician’s review of the CTG.
While human error can be mitigated by improved training and credentialing, experience
from a range of areas including aviation suggests that even the most highly trained opera-
tors will potentially benefit from decision support whether it comes from a colleague and/
or computer.
Computerized CTG has been available in various formats since the 1990s and incorpo-
rates a decision support capability. Automated analysis of CTG tracings requires processing
uterine contraction signals, short-term variability, estimation of FHR baseline, detection
of accelerations, abnormal and mean long-term variability and detection and classification
of decelerations. Algorithms calculate these variables based on preprogrammed system-
specific criteria. Omniview Sis-Porto and the K2 Medical Systems Data Collection System
(Guardian)8 are two currently available commercial systems.
In 2010, a Cochrane Review of antenatal CTG noted that computerized CTG in two
studies (469 patients) significantly reduced the relative risk of perinatal mortality (RR 0.2;
95% CI 0.04–0.88).2 Similarly, intrapartum computerized CTG studies from the 1990s sug-
gest that the software being assessed performed as well as expert obstetricians in interpret-
ing CTGs and predicted poor outcome sooner than the experts.9
There are currently two large clinical trials underway assessing two systems of computer-
ized clinical support, the INFANT study (Intelligent Fetal Assessment Monitoring) and the
Omniview Sis-Porto trial.
The INFANT trial10 is randomizing approximately 46,000 patients in units throughout
the United Kingdom and is powered to detect a 50 per cent relative risk reduction (5 per cent
significance) in a composite score of ‘poor perinatal outcome’ between those randomized
145
Chapter 24: Role of a Computerized CTG 145
Figure 24.2 The Omniview Sis-Porto decision support software. Note that the computer is flagging up ‘very
repetitive decelerations’ in amber. More severe abnormalities will be highlighted in red.
to decision support and those receiving standard care. This trial is utilizing the ‘Guardian’
system developed by the Plymouth Group.
The Omniview Sis-Porto system also has decision support software and provides vis-
ual and auditory alerts based on the interpretation of CTG but also incorporates fetal ECG
(STAN) data (Figure 24.2). The software analyses the CTG–fetal ST and produces a colour-
coded alert notifying the operator when there are characteristics that may increase the like-
lihood of fetal hypoxia. The colour-coded alerts produce management advice (e.g. consider
discontinuing/reducing oxytocin infusion or acute tocolysis) depending on the severity of
abnormality.
The Omniview Sis-Porto trial has randomized 8,133 women and is powered (5 per cent
significance) to detect a 1 per cent reduction in the overall rate of fetal metabolic acidosis
from 2.8 per cent to 1.8 per cent. The secondary outcome measures include rate of caesarean
section for nonreassuring fetal state; fetal blood sampling rates; operative vaginal delivery
rates; apgar scores <7; and admission to neonatal intensive care.
Conclusion
Improved perinatal outcomes may be achieved with intensive physiology-based CTG educa-
tion for all staff provided there is systematic and sustained effort at credentialing participants.
Fetal ECG ST analysis adds fetal cardiac oxygen metabolism as a second parameter to
the existing CTG data, potentially allowing for greater specificity and sensitivity in fetal
monitoring.
The incorporation of computerized decision support to the CTG ± fetal ECG mitigates
human factors and may provide an opportunity to realize greater dividends from EFM.
However, preliminary data from both the Sis-Porto Trial and the Infant Trial which have
been presented at scientific meetings (i.e. pending publications) suggest that the use of
‘decision-support’ computerised systems have not resulted in any significant improvements
146
146 Chapter 24: Role of a Computerized CTG
in perinatal outcomes. This illustrates the importance of using the knowledge of fetal physi-
ology to interpret CTG Traces.
References 6. Khangura T, Chandraharan E. Electronic

fetal heart rate monitoring: the future.
1. Alfirevic Z, Devane D, Gyte GML. Curr Women’s Health Rev 2013;9:169–74.
Continuous cardiotocography (CTG) 7. Young P, Hamilton R, Hodgett S, Moss M,
as a form of electronic fetal monitoring Rigby C, Jones P, et al. Reducing risk by
(EFM) for fetal assessment during improving standards of intrapartum fetal
labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev care. J R Soc Med 2001;94:226–31.
2013;5:CD006066.
8. Ayres-de-Campos D, Bernardes J, Garrido
2. Grivell RM, Alfirevic Z, Gyte GML, A, Marques-de-Sá J, Pereira-Leite L.
Devane D. Antenatal cardiotocography for SisPorto 2.0: a program for automated
fetal assessment. Cochrane Database Syst analysis of cardiotocograms. J Matern Fetal
Rev 2010;1:CD007863. Med 2000;9:311–18.
3. Ennis M, Vincent CA. Obstetric 9. Keith RDF, Beckley S, Garibaldi JM,
accidents: a review of 64 cases. BMJ Westgate JA, Ifeachor EC, Greene KR.
1990;300:1365–7. A multicenter comparative study of 17
4. Gaffney G, Sellers S, Flavell V, Squire experts and an intelligent computer
M, Johnson A. Case-control study of system for managing labour using the
intrapartum care, cerebral palsy, and cardiotocogram. Br J Obstet Gynaecol
perinatal death. BMJ 1994;308:743–50. 1995;102:688–700.
5. Stewart JH, Andrews J, Cartlidge PH. 10. Brocklehurst P. A multicentre randomized
Numbers of deaths related to intrapartum controlled trial of an intelligent system
asphyxia and timing of birth in all to support decision making in the
Wales Perinatal Survey, 1993–5. BMJ management of labour using the
1998;316:657–60. cardiotocogram (INFANT). Protocol 2014.
Version 12. www.ucl.ac.uk/ctu/infant
147
Peripheral Tests of Fetal

Chapter
25 Well-being
Charis Mills and Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
• Labour is a stressful process for the fetus, and the vast majority of fetuses mount a
successful compensatory response to mechanical or hypoxic stresses without sustaining
any neurological injury.
• Intrapartum fetal hypoxia leading to fetal decompensation may be associated with
adverse perinatal outcomes and long-term neurological sequelae such as cerebral palsy.
• Due to the high false-positive rate of CTG (60–90 per cent), peripheral tests of fetal
well-being (fetal scalp blood sampling [FBS], fetal scalp lactate analysis and fetal pulse
oximetry) were developed to reduce intrapartum operative interventions.
• Peripheral tests of fetal well-being are not to be used in isolation but are adjuncts to
continuous fetal monitoring using CTG.
• This chapter evaluates the current scientific evidence to support the use of these
additional tests of fetal well-being in improving neonatal outcomes.
Fetal Scalp Blood Sampling

• FBS was first introduced in 1962 by Erich Saling to estimate fetal acid–base status as
an indicator of hypoxia prior to the introduction of CTG into clinical practice.1 FBS
involves the introduction of an amnioscope into the woman’s vagina. The fetal scalp is
then visualized and a sample of capillary blood is taken via a small puncture wound in
the fetal scalp and is analysed for pH (or lactate).
• Unfortunately, the value of estimating capillary blood pH from a peripheral tissue is
often inaccurate as the site of fetal scalp sampling is not representative of true acid–base
balance. Moreover, the fetal scalp may be compressed during labour and the presence
of caput succedaneum may lead to inaccurate results.2 This may result in unnecessary
interventions in fetuses that are not truly hypoxic.
• A Cochrane Systematic Review of 13 studies on fetal heart monitoring found no
evidence from the studies that FBS reduces caesarean section rates or neonatal
seizures.3 In addition, there was no evidence of improvement in long-term neurological
outcomes.
• However, the Intrapartum Guidelines of the National Institute for Health and Clinical
Excellence (NICE) in 2014 still recommends the use of FBS for a pathological CTG,
even though the Guideline Development Group has concluded that FBS actually

147
148
148 Chapter 25: Peripheral Tests of Fetal Well-being
Table 25.1 NICE classification of fetal blood sample results4
Scalp pH Scalp lactate Interpretation

≥7.25 ≤4.1 Normal
>7.21–7.24 4.2–4.8 Borderline
≤7.20 ≥4.9 Abnormal
increases the number of caesarean sections and instrumental vaginal deliveries.4 There
is no robust scientific evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to support
reduction in neonatal acidosis.
• FBS does not distinguish between respiratory and metabolic acidaemia. Metabolic
acidaemia is associated with neonatal morbidity. FBS is contraindicated in active
maternal infection including HIV and herpes and in known or suspected fetal blood
disorders.
• Published data in the United Kingdom suggests that it takes 18 minutes to get FBS
results, and therefore, in cases of subacute hypoxia, the use of FBS may delay delivery
and worsen perinatal outcomes.
• Scientific evidence suggests that the presence of meconium staining of amniotic fluid as
well as contamination with normal amniotic fluid itself may result in erroneous values.5
Fetal Scalp Lactate Analysis

• Lactate is a metabolite in anaerobic metabolism and reflects tissue hypoxia. Fetal scalp
lactate can be obtained via the same method as FBS for pH, but lactate is analysed
rather than pH. Table 25.1 shows the NICE classification of fetal blood sample results
for both pH and lactate analysis.4 Repeat sampling and intervention is based on the
interpretation of the result, CTG trace, rate of progress of labour and any clinical
maternal or fetal indications.
• A large multicentre Swedish RCT including 2,992 women compared lactate analysis
versus pH analysis of fetal scalp blood samples to determine the effectiveness for each
analysis and management of intrapartum fetal distress and prevention of acidaemia
at birth. This study found no significant differences in rates of metabolic acidaemia
at birth, Apgar score <7 at 5 minutes of life and rates of operative deliveries for fetal
distress between lactate and pH analysis. Failure rates of achieving a sample were
higher in the pH group.6 In other studies, sampling and analysis is found to be more
successful and quicker when using fetal lactate analysis. Fetal lactate requires a smaller
amount of blood (5 μL) than fetal pH (30–50 μL).
• A recent Cochrane Systematic Review has also confirmed that although fetal scalp
lactate was easier to perform and required a smaller scalp blood sample compared to
FBS, there was no difference in operative interventions and perinatal outcomes.7
Fetal Pulse Oximetry

• Fetal pulse oximetry is an intrapartum test of fetal well-being that involves attachment
of a probe to the fetal head to measure oxygen saturation in fetal blood. Fetal pulse
oximetry relies on differential rates of absorption of infrared beam of light by
oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin at two different wavelengths during an
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Chapter 25: Peripheral Tests of Fetal Well-being 149
arterial pulsation cycle. Fetal acidaemia is rare when arterial oxygen saturation is >30
per cent; therefore, a SpO2 >30 per cent is associated with good fetal outcome.
• Technical difficulties include positioning of the probe against fetal cheek and incorrect
reading due to the presence of meconium and blood in amniotic fluid.
• A recent Cochrane Review of seven RCTs, involving a total of 8,013 women, showed
that fetal pulse oximetry in conjunction with CTG does not improve caesarean section
rates compared with the use of CTG alone. One trial comparing oximetry and CTG
with CTG and fetal ECG showed an increase in caesarean section rates in the fetal pulse
oximetry group.8
• Understand fetal physiology and employ regular CTG review and training to avoid
misinterpretation of CTG traces leading to unnecessary intervention in fetuses that are
not subject to hypoxia.
• Where possible, if a CTG trace is nonreassuring, seek senior obstetric and midwifery
advice and use other additional tests that determine the oxygenation of a central organ
such as fetal ECG (STAN) rather than a peripheral test (FBS and pulse oximetry).
• Multiple and failed attempts at FBS for pH and lactate analysis can cause delay
in delivery. Recent scientific evidence suggests that it may double the caesarean
section rate.9
• Failure to understand the pathophysiology of intrapartum fetal hypoxia may result in a
delay in delivery due to attempting FBS and thereby worsening perinatal outcomes.
• Rare complications of FBS (fetal scalp pH and lactate) include haemorrhage, sepsis and
leakage of cerebrospinal fluid.10
• Peripheral tests of fetal well-being can lead to unnecessary maternal and fetal
interventions to fetuses that are not subjected to a hypoxic insult. A recent
Commentary in 2016 has questioned the ethical and moral issues arising due to some
national guidelines continuing to recommend FBS in routine clinical practice without
any scientific evidence of benefit but with potential harm.11
References as a form of electronic fetal monitoring

(EFM) for fetal assessment during labour.
1. Bretscher J, Saling E. pH values in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
human fetus during labour. American 2013;5:CD006066.
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 4. National Institute for Health and Clinical
1967;97:906–11. Excellence (NICE) 2014 Guidelines.
2. Chandraharan E. Fetal scalp blood 5. Losch A, Kainz C, Kohlberger P, et al.
sampling during labour: is it a useful Influence on fetal blood pH when adding
diagnostic test or a historical test amniotic fluid: an in vitro model. BJOG
that no longer has a place in modern 2003;110:453–6.
clinical obstetrics? BJOG 2014. Aug;
121(9):1056–60. 6. Wiberg-Itzel E, Lipponer C, Normaln
M, et al. Determination of pH or lactate
3. Alfirevic Z, Devane D, Gyte GML. in fetal scalp blood in management of
Continuous cardiotocography (CTG)
150
150 Chapter 25: Peripheral Tests of Fetal Well-being
intrapartum fetal distress: randomised mode in labours with repetitive fetal

controlled multicentre trial. BMJ 2008; scalp blood sampling. European Journal of
June 7336(7656):1284–7. Obstetric Gynaecology Reproductive Biology
7. East CE, Leader LR, Sheehan P, et al. 2015;184:97–102.
Intrapartum fetal scalp lactate sampling 10. Schaap TP, Moormann KA, Becker JH,
for fetal assessment in the presence of et al. Cerebrospinal fluid leakage, an
a non-reassuring fetal heart rate trace. uncommon complication of fetal blood
Cochrane Database Systematic Review sampling: a case report and review of the
2010;CD006174. literature. Obstetric Gynecology Survey
8. East CE, Begg L, Colditz PB, et al. Fetal 2011;66:42–6.
pulse oximetry for fetal assessment in 11. Chandraharan E. Should national
labor. Cochrane Database of Systematic guidelines continue to recommend fetal
Reviews 2014;10;CD004075. scalp blood sampling during labor? Journal
9. Holzmann M, Wretler S, Cnattingius S, of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine
et al. Neonatal outcomes and delivery 2016 Feb 24:1–4.
151
Operative Interventions for

Chapter
26 Fetal Compromise
Mary Catherine Tolcher and Kyle D. Traynor
Key Facts
• The use of vacuum or forceps can result in apparent deterioration in fetal status (usually
prolonged fetal deceleration) when traction is applied.
• Failed operative vaginal delivery is associated with increased neonatal morbidity and
necessitates emergent caesarean delivery.
Operative Vaginal Delivery

• Operative vaginal delivery with either vacuum or forceps can serve as a useful
alternative to caesarean delivery when a delivery is required during the second stage of
labour.
• Common indications for operative intervention include suspected fetal compromise,
prolonged second stage of labour, fetal malposition, maternal paraplegia, known
contraindication to valsalva (pushing) including cardiovascular or neurological disease,
or maternal exhaustion.1
• Prerequisites must be met prior to attempts at operative vaginal delivery. Clinical
criteria outlined in National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines
include vertex presentation, full dilation, ruptured membranes, clinically adequate
pelvis and knowledge of fetal position. Other important elements include informed
consent, adequate skills on the part of the operator and availability of staff and facilities
for caesarean delivery if required.2
• Additionally, the preparation for complications including shoulder dystocia and
postpartum haemorrhage should be undertaken. Personnel trained in neonatal
resuscitation should be present for delivery.
Anticipated CTG Changes Following Instrument Application

• Following the application of a vacuum with suction to pressures up to 600 mm Hg,3
fetal heart rate (FHR) decelerations can be expected. This phenomenon is explained
by known mechanisms of FHR regulation including the interaction of the sympathetic
and parasympathetic nervous systems. When suction is applied to the fetal head, the
increased intracranial pressure results in increased systemic vascular resistance which
stimulates baroreceptors in the fetal heart to activate the vagus nerve and slow the

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152 Chapter 26: Operative Interventions for Fetal Compromise
Figure 26.1 Acute drop in FHR following the removal of fetal scalp electrode and application of the vacuum
cup (arrow). This precipitous fall in FHR is not secondary to hypoxia but due to an intense parasympathetic
stimulation.
FHR.4,5 In addition, there may be direct stimulation of parasympathetic nerve endings

on the fetal scalp resulting in a prolonged deceleration.
• Anticipated effects following forceps application are similar to those seen with
vacuum-assisted delivery as the mechanism of increased intracranial pressure is
similar (Figure 26.1). Kelly evaluated 62 operative vaginal deliveries including
44 forceps and 18 vacuum deliveries by measuring the intensity of traction in
pounds and the effects on FHR during application, traction and posttraction.6 Fetal
decelerations were commonly elicited when traction was applied to either instrument
(84 per cent).
• Scientific evidence suggests that the reflex cardiac deceleration is triggered when
intracranial pressure exceeds 40 mm Hg.
Failed Operative Vaginal Delivery

• While the goal of vacuum or forceps is to achieve a vaginal delivery, not all attempts
are successful. Attempted vacuum-assisted vaginal delivery is more likely to result in a
failed trial of operative vaginal delivery as compared to forceps (7.5 per cent versus 1.4
per cent in one study and 15.7 per cent versus 0.4 per cent in another).7,8
• Risk factors for failed trial include maternal body mass index over 30 kg/m2, estimated
fetal weight >4,000 g, occipito-posterior position and midcavity delivery or when more
than one-fifth of the fetal head is palpable per abdomen.2 Other potential contributors
to a failed attempt include fetal caput succedaneum, hair, asynclitism/malposition and
improper instrument placement.3
• According to current guidelines, operative vaginal delivery should be abandoned when
there is no evidence of progressive descent with the application of moderate traction
during each uterine contraction. Alternatively, further attempts at operative vaginal
delivery should be abandoned if delivery is not imminent following three contractions
in which traction was applied using a correctly placed instrument by an experienced
operator.2 No more than three vacuum pop-offs has also been suggested.3
153
Chapter 26: Operative Interventions for Fetal Compromise 153
• When attempts at operative vaginal delivery have failed, the subsequent caesarean
delivery can be complicated by a deeply impacted fetal head. Forces exerted to deliver
the fetus may compound effects on increased intracranial pressures. Further, uterine
contractions or fetal malposition can make delivery difficult.
• Uterine relaxants and disengagement techniques including the push (vaginal hand
from below) and pull (reverse breech extraction) methods have been described.9 Care
must be taken to prevent hysterotomy extensions resulting in excessive blood loss and
fetal injury. Reported fetal injuries associated with difficult fetal extraction at the time
of caesarean include long bone and skull fractures.9
• Delivery by caesarean may be essential if the likelihood of a failed operative vaginal
delivery is deemed high based on clinical circumstances and experience of the
operator.
Decision to Delivery Interval

Risks of intracranial haemorrhage, facial nerve injury, convulsions, central nervous system
depression and mechanical ventilation are significantly higher in infants delivered by cae-
sarean delivery following a failed attempt at operative vaginal delivery than in those deliv-
ered spontaneously.10
• Because of known increased neonatal morbidity associated with failed trial of operative
vaginal delivery, expeditious delivery by caesarean is essential, especially if there are
features suggestive of fetal decompensation on the CTG. According to NICE guidelines,
caesarean delivery following a failed trial of operative vaginal delivery is considered
category 1 (emergent) and should occur as soon as possible, generally within 30
minutes as an audit standard.2
• According to one study of operative vaginal deliveries in Scotland, of 998 operative
vaginal deliveries attempted, 965 were successful (96.7 per cent).8 Of the 965 successful
operative vaginal deliveries, 798 were performed in the labour room (82.7 per cent)
with a decision to delivery interval of 14.5 minutes (SD 9.5), while 167 were performed
in the operating room (17.3 per cent) with a decision to delivery interval of 30.3
minutes (SD 14.1).
Pitfalls
• Misapplication of instrument due to incorrect diagnosis of fetal position.
• Choice of wrong instrument (use of a nonrotational forceps for a malrotated
fetal head).
• Prolonged attempts at failed trial of operative vaginal delivery (e.g. greater than three
pop-offs with vacuum or use of multiple instruments).
• Abandonment of trial of operative vaginal delivery due to fetal decelerations with
traction.
• Failure to effect delivery by caesarean expeditiously in cases of failed trial of operative
vaginal delivery if there are features suggestive of fetal decompensation on the
CTG trace.
• Inadequate management of an impacted fetal head at the time of caesarean delivery
following a failed trial of operative vaginal delivery leading to fetal trauma and
increased intracranial pressure resulting in a reduction in carotid circulation.
154
154 Chapter 26: Operative Interventions for Fetal Compromise
• Failed instrumental delivery due to the use of excessive/inappropriate force after
observing a deceleration secondary to expected parasympathetic stimulation after the
application of forceps or vacuum cup.
• Fetal complications may occur secondary to an unnecessary operative vaginal delivery
due to overreaction to patterns observed on the CTG trace without understanding
the fetal physiological response to on-going hypoxic or mechanical stress. These
complications include cephalohematoma, fetal intracranial haemorrhage, fetal skull
fracture and delayed caesarean delivery.
• Angle extensions and excessive blood loss during caesarean delivery secondary to
misinterpretation of the CTG trace during advanced second stage of labour.
• Fetal neurological injury or perinatal death due to a delay in accomplishing delivery
despite ongoing features on the CTG trace suggestive of decompensation of the brain
(loss of baseline FHR variability) or the myocardium (unstable baseline FHR or a
prolonged deceleration with loss of baseline variability within deceleration).
References 7. Al-Kadri H, Sabr Y, Al-Saif S, Abulaimoun

B, Ba’Aqeel H, Saleh A. Failed individual
1. Unzila AA, Norwitz ER. Vacuum-assisted and sequential instrumental vaginal
vaginal delivery. Rev Obstet Gynecol delivery: contributing risk factors and
2009;2(1):5–17. maternal-neonatal complications. Acta
2. Royal College of Obstetricians and Obstet Gynecol Scand 2003;82(7):642–8.
Gynaecologists. Green-top guideline 8. Murphy DJ, Koh DKM. Cohort study
26: Operative vaginal delivery. London: of the decision to delivery interval and
RCOG; 2011. neonatal outcome for emergency operative
3. Kiwi Complete Vacuum Delivery vaginal delivery. Am J Obstet Gynecol
System with Palm Pump. Clinical 2007;196:145.e1-145.e7.
Innovations. Instructions for use. www. 9. Berhan Y, Berhan A. A meta-analysis
clinicalinnovations.com/site_files/files/ of reverse breech extraction to deliver
Kiwi%20IFU.pdf. Accessed 26 March 2015. a deeply impacted head during
4. Nageotte MP. Intrapartum fetal cesarean delivery. Int J Gynaecol Obstet
surveillance. Chapter In: Creasy and 2014;124(2):99–105.
Resnik’s maternal-fetal medicine: principles 10. Towner D, Castro MA, Eby-Wilkens E,
and practice, 33, 488-506.e2. Elsevier 2014. Gilbert WM. Effect of mode of delivery
5. Zilianti M, Cabello F, Estrada MA. in nulliparous women on neonatal
Fetal heart rate patterns during forceps intracranial injury. N Engl J Med
operation. J Perinat Med 1978;6:80–86. 1999;341(23):1709–14.
6. Kelly JV. Instrumental delivery and the

fetal heart rate. Am J Obstet Gynecol
1963;87:529–37.
155
Nonhypoxic Causes of
Chapter
27 CTG Changes
Dovilé Kalvinskaité and Edwin Chandraharan
The fetal heart rate (FHR) is controlled through various integrated physiological mecha-
nisms, most importantly through an interaction of sympathetic and parasympathetic
nervous systems. Optimum functioning of the fetal heart requires an intact central nerv-
ous system and a well-developed fetal heart to respond adequately. Thus, abnormal CTG
changes may be caused by congenital malformations or organic changes in the fetal brain
or heart, together with infection and other metabolic changes that might affect these organs
(Figures 27.1 and 27.2).
Key Facts
• Various congenital, organic or metabolic changes in the fetus may cause an abnormal
FHR pattern, in the absence of hypoxia.
• Up to 75 per cent of fetuses with nonhypoxic CNS damage represent changes in CTG,
even though there is no single unique feature on the CTG trace associated with such an
abnormality.
• ‘Nonreassuring’ FHR patterns are more common in preterm fetuses because their
brain is less well developed. Such CTG abnormalities may occur in up to 60 per cent of
these cases.
• Maternal administration with various medications may affect the fetus and modulate
the CTG changes.
• Erroneous monitoring of MHR as FHR may also result in CTG changes (see
Chapter 6).

• Fetuses with normal neurological state have quiet sleep and active periods termed
‘cycling’. Absence of cycling may be due to major fetal brain malformation or
haemorrhage, fetal infection or medication.
• Reduced or absent baseline variability is the most common feature seen in the CTG
when the CNS function is impaired due to congenital malformation or fetal infection.
It can also be caused by medications and occurs shortly after administering them.
• A persistently ‘flat’ baseline variability with normal baseline FHR and without
accelerations or decelerations may reflect a severe pre-existing neurological damage
(Figure 27.3). The fetus, therefore, is unlikely to be hypoxic if a decreased variability

155
156
156 Chapter 27: Nonhypoxic Causes of CTG Changes
Nonhypoxic Brain Damage
Preterm fetus
• Periventricular Leucomalacia (white matter injury) -
white matter around the ventricles is highly
metabolically active and may be injured due to
inflammatory mediators or haemorrhage
Preterm and term fetus

• Congenital malformations of the fetal brain
• Cerebral vascular accidents (e.g. intra-uterine fetal stroke)
• Selective neuronal necrosis (usually secondary to the occlusion of a blood vessel)
• Fetal trauma (intracranial haemorrhage secondary to forceps)
• Inflammatory damage (maternal infection, chorioamnionitis, fetal sepsis,
meningitis, encephalitis)
• Fetal metabolic disorders
• Maternal metabolic disorders (e.g. diabetes ketoacidosis)
• Medications (e.g. analgesics, opioids, tranquilizers, magnesium sulpahte,
barbiturates, methyldopa)
Figure 27.1 Causes of nonhypoxic brain injuries.
Nonhypoxic Myocardial Damage

with CTG Changes
Electrical
• Tachyarrythmias (sinus tachycardia, SVT, atrial flutter )
• Bradyarrhythmias (second degree and complete AV block, long QT
syndrome)
Nonelectrical
• Immunological (maternal SLE, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatomyositis, Sjögren’s
syndrome)
• Medications (affecting mycordial function or conduction)
• Structural malformations of the heart
Figure 27.2 Causes of nonhypoxic myocardial damage.

157
Chapter 27: Nonhypoxic Causes of CTG Changes 157
Figure 27.3 CTG trace of a fetus with a massive intracranial haemorrhage in the antenatal period. Note the total
absence of baseline variability and absence of preexisting decelerations.
develops in the absence of preceding decelerations. The lack of baseline variability may
also correlate with the severity of fetal brain damage.
• An increase in baseline FHR can be due to maternal infection, chorioamnionitis or fetal
infection. Other major causes of fetal tachycardia are cardiac arrhythmias and maternal
administration of sympathetic (e.g. terbutaline) or parasympathetic (e.g. atropine)
medications and maternal hyperthyroidism.
• The most common fetal tachyarrhythmia is supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), which
is characterized by a persistent tachycardia at FHR of 210 to 320 bpm with reduced
baseline variability. SVT usually appears around 28 to 30 weeks of gestation, and if it is
persistent at a rate of >230 bpm, it can lead to the development of hydrops fetalis.
• Baseline FHR bradycardia can be caused by maternal administration of drugs
(labetolol, atenolol), prolonged maternal hypoglycaemia or hypothermia, connective
tissue diseases, fetal cardiac conduction or anatomic defects. As long as normal baseline
variability is present, fetal bradycardia may be considered benign in such cases.
Intermittent fetal bradycardia frequently is due to congenital heart block. Even in cases
of complete heart block, the FHR does not go below 55–60 bpm (ventricular rate); if it
does, a coexisting fetal hypoxia should be excluded. The baseline variability will be lost
within deceleration in cases of hypoxia due to a reduction in cerebral circulation.
• Pseudo-sinusoidal fetal heart pattern may be observed following the administration of
meperidine, morphine, and it should resolve within 30 minutes. A true sinusoidal trace
may occur with fetal intracranial haemorrhage, chorioamnionitis or severe maternal
diabetes.
• Unsteady baseline rate or ‘wandering’ baseline can be due to a severe brain or cardiac
malformation and may appear as a preterminal event.
158
Figure 27.4 Total loss of baseline variability due to a severe fetal CNS infection.

• Decreased or absent variability occurs when the autonomic nervous system, which
is responsible for the modularity function of the CNS, is impaired. Hence, severe
malformations or organic changes (e.g. large cerebral haemorrhage) in the midbrain
or cortex (Figure 27.1) –or when central neural pathways are disorganized because of
chromosomal or other genetic abnormalities –abnormal features may be observed on
the CTG trace.
• Increase in sympathetic or decrease in parasympathetic nervous system tone causes
fetal tachycardia. It can be due to a direct fetal infection or as a secondary fetal response
due to transplacental passage of pyrogens in the presence of maternal infection, as well
as due to fetal cardiac electrical abnormalities, medications or maternal anxiety (release
of adrenaline).
• Fetus exposure to an infection may cause a fetal inflammatory response syndrome
which leads to the development of cytokine-mediated white matter injury in the fetal
brain and, therefore, changes in the CTG (Figure 27.4).
• Fetal heart conduction defects usually are associated with maternal connective tissue
diseases, because maternal SS-A/Ro and SS-B/La antibodies cause inflammatory
myocarditis and disrupts fetal cardiac conduction system.
• If there is a derangement or a virtual absence of CNS control over the FHR, a sinusoidal
pattern is observed.
• Intrauterine convulsions may result in repeated accelerations with the absence of
cycling (Figure 27.5). Repeated ‘low-amplitude’ accelerations secondary to disorganized
fetal movements during convulsions with absence of cycling should alert clinicians to
ongoing intrauterine convulsions (Figure 27.5). In this case, the umbilical cord gases
would be entirely normal, but the neonate may continue to have neonatal convulsions.
An MRI scan may not show any evidence of hypoxic injury.
159
Figure 27.5 CTG trace in intrauterine fetal convulsions. Note the absence of cycling and repeated ‘low-amplitude’
accelerations secondary to disorganized fetal movements during convulsions.
• Hypoxic causes and maternal or fetal infection that may have resulted in nonreassuring
CTG changes must be excluded.
• If the fetus is unlikely to be hypoxic and there are no other causes to explain
nonreassuring features observed on the CTG trace, a further detailed investigation
should be performed (e.g. ultrasound to confirm congenital malformations, fetal
echocardiography).
• SVT and fetal heart block require an active management and may be associated
with fetal compromise and/or maternal disease. Most other cardiac arrhythmias,
although, are considered as benign and do not require immediate delivery or other
than management targeted at a specific condition (e.g. sympatholytic drugs to correct
supraventricular tachycardia).
• In cases of complete fetal heart block, a search for autoimmune antibodies in mother’s
blood should be performed even if she is asymptomatic.
• FHR changes which develop after administration of drugs can be
managed expectantly.
Key tips to Optimize the Outcome

• The whole clinical picture and previous CTG traces have to be considered to exclude
ongoing nonhypoxic causes of fetal injury.
• One has to make sure that the CTG trace is normal with no evidence of hypoxia before
giving any medications.
160
Figure 27.6 CTG trace in a fetus with severe cardiac conduction defects.
• If a nonhypoxic cause (e.g. intrauterine infection, intrauterine convulsions or cardiac

rhythm abnormality) is suspected, the neonatal team should be informed in advance to
optimize outcome after birth.
• Women should be counselled regarding the prognosis of the suspected/diagnosed
nonhypoxic cause of fetal injury as well as the role and limitations of electronic FHR
monitoring.
Pitfalls
• Failure to recognize the absence of cycling on the CTG trace. In the absence of ongoing
hypoxia, decelerations may be absent.
• The changes observed on the CTG trace may be misdiagnosed as due to hypoxia
leading to unnecessary interventions such as fetal scalp blood sampling or unnecessary
emergency caesarean section.
• In the presence of abnormal CTG trace with a confirmed fetal anomaly (Figure 27.4),
a true ongoing fetal hypoxia and acidaemia may not be recognized, which may worsen
neurological damage to the fetus.
• The use of fetal ECG (STAN) in the presence of cardiac conduction defects
(Figure 27.6) as these may influence the waveforms observed on the fetal ECG leading
to unnecessary operative interventions.
• Antepartum fetal death.
161
• Fetal neurological impairment or higher neonatal morbidity rate due to a failure to

recognize an ongoing infection.
• A necessary management of a neonate is delayed and neonatal morbidity increased
when an underlying fetal brain or cardiac abnormality is not recognized timely before
the delivery.
• Early neonatal death.
References X. Impact of histological chorioamnionitis,

funisitis and clinical chorioamnionitis
1. Kodoma Y, Sameshima H, Ikeda T, on neurodevelopmental outcome of
Ikenoue T. Intrapartum fetal heart rate preterm infants. Early Human Development
patterns in infants (>34 weeks) with poor 2010;87:253–7.
neurological outcome. Early Human 7. Kuypers E, Ophelders D, Jellema RK,
Development 2009;85:235–8. Kunzmann S, Gavilanes AW, Kramer
2. ACOG. Practice Bulletin on Intrapartum BW. White matter injury following
fetal heart rate monitoring: nomenclature, fetal inflammatory response syndrome
interpretation, and general management induced by chorioamnionitis and fetal
principles. American College of Obstetricians sepsis: Lessons from experimental ovine
and Gynecologists 2009;106:192–202. models. Early Human Development
2012;88:931–6.
3. Yanamandra N, Chandraharan E. Saltatory
and sinusoidal heart rate (FHR) patterns 8. Wang X, Rousset CI, Hagberg H,
and significance of FHR ‘overshoots’. Mallard C. Lipopolysaccharide-induced
Current Women’s Health Reviews inflammation and perinatal brain injury.
2013;9:175–82. Science Direct 2006:11:343–53.
4. McDonnell S, Chandraharan E. Fetal 9. Cardiotocograph interpretation: more
heart rate interpretation in the second difficult problems. Chapter in: Fetal
stage of labour: pearls and pitfalls. British Monitoring in Practice. 3rd ed. Gibb D,
Journal of Medicine and Medical Research Arulkumaran S. (eds). Elsevier: Churchill
2015;7(12):956–70. Livingstone, 2008.
5. Govaert P. Prenatal stroke. Seminars 10. Strasburger JF, Cheulkar B, Wichman
in Fetal and Neonatal Medicine HJ. Perinatal arrhythmias: diagnosis
2009;14:250–66. and management. Clinical Perinatology
2007;34(4):627–56.
6. Rovira N, Alarcon A, Iriondo M, Ibanez M,
Poo P, Cusi V, Agut T, Pertierra A, Krauel
162
Neonatal Implications of
Chapter
28 Intrapartum Fetal Hypoxia

Justin Richards
Introduction
Intermittent fetal hypoxia is an integral part of normal childbirth, and the healthy fetus is
extremely well adapted to withstand this unharmed. As the uterine muscle contracts during
the process of labour, the blood supply to the placenta is reduced, and oxygen and nutrient
delivery to the fetus is reduced. Between uterine contractions, the uterine muscle relaxes
and oxygen and nutrient supply is restored. Studies in animals have shown that intermittent,
regular and complete interruption of fetal blood supply is well tolerated if these interrup-
tions are shorter in duration and the fetus is given adequate time to recover. This is borne out
by what we observe in clinical practice.
When Does Fetal Hypoxia Pose a Risk for the Fetus?

• Despite very effective fetal adaptations to cope with acute oxygen and nutrient
deprivation during labour, neonatal brain injury resulting from inadequate oxygen in
the perinatal period (perinatal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy [HIE]) is estimated
to account for 23 per cent of neonatal deaths worldwide1 and 9–10 per cent of neonatal
deaths in the United Kingdom.2
• In babies that survive, a significant number will develop long-term neurological
sequelae ranging from mild behavioural disorders to significant cognitive impairment
and/or cerebral palsy.
• Fetal asphyxia occurs when inadequate oxygen supply leads to anaerobic respiration
and subsequent metabolic acidosis and hyperlactaemia. A mild degree of asphyxia
occurs in all normal deliveries with no adverse sequelae; however, the chances of
significant injury increase as metabolic acidosis becomes more profound.
• Studies demonstrate that an umbilical cord blood pH <7.0 is associated with an
increased risk of brain injury, although even at these levels the majority of babies will
recover without long-term effects.
• There are other factors which may reduce the ability of the fetus to cope with hypoxia
during delivery. Placental dysfunction is known to be associated with an increased risk
of HIE, and chorioamnionitis is more common in the placental histology of babies with
HIE, suggesting that inflammation may also be a contributory factor. In babies that
develop HIE, having clinical signs of sepsis increases the risk of brain injury.3,4

162
163
Chapter 28: Neonatal Implications of Intrapartum Fetal Hypoxia 163
Glucose
Oxygen GLYCOLYTIC PATHWAY Cell
Pyruvate
Lactate
Acetyl-CoA
Mitochondria
NAD+
KREBS
NADH CYCLE
OXIDATIVE
e- Cytochrome ADP Na
PHOSPHORY-
LATION chain ATP
95% K
Figure 28.1 Normal cellular energy metabolism demonstrating pathways of ATP production from glucose and
oxygen.
• Asphyxia that is severe enough to lead to significant neonatal encephalopathy usually

also leads to damage to multiple organ systems in the fetus and newborn. Renal and
hepatic impairment are common, but usually recover with time.
• Cardiac dysfunction may lead to hypotension requiring inotropic support and
respiratory involvement to pulmonary hypertension and respiratory failure.
Mechanisms of Hypoxic Brain Injury

In normal cellular energy metabolism in the fetal and neonatal brain, glucose is transported
into the cell and, through gluconeogenesis and the Krebs cycle, leads to a reduction of NAD
to NADH. NADH is used to transport electrons into the respiratory chain which in turn
drive oxidative phosphorylation through the reduction of oxygen. The end products are
high-energy phosphate compounds (mainly ATP) used to power the cell (Figure 28.1). As
part of this process, small quantities of oxygen-free radicals are formed, but in normally
functioning cells, these are scavenged through antioxidant mechanisms.
The mechanisms of brain injury following hypoxic insult are complex and involve two
stages.
1. Interruption of oxygen and nutrient supply to the fetal brain leads to primary energy
failure within minutes. There is a rapid depletion of intracellular ATP stores and ulti-
mately cellular necrosis is caused by a failure of sodium potassium pump if oxygen sup-
ply is not restored.
2. Reperfusion following resuscitation leads to a rapid restoration of oxidative phospho-
rylation. Initially ATP levels return almost to normal; however, a period of secondary
energy failure follows, when cellular energy supplies fall again. This is caused by a cas-
cade of cytotoxic reactions within the cell triggered by the processes of reoxygenation.
3. During primary energy failure, electrons accumulate in the mitochondria. When oxy-
gen levels are restored, these electrons combine with oxygen to produce highly reactive
164
164 Chapter 28: Neonatal Implications of Intrapartum Fetal Hypoxia
Table 28.1 Clinical grading system for HIE9
Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3

Irritability hyperalert Lethargic Comatose
Mild hypotonia Marked abnormalities of tone Severe hypotonia
No seizures Seizures Prolonged seizures
Poor sucking Requires tube feeding Failure to maintain spontaneous respiration
free radicals that overwhelm the normal cellular antioxidant mechanisms and lead to
the production of highly toxic reactive oxygen compounds that damage the intracellu-
lar structures.
4. Ultimately these cytotoxic reactions trigger programmed cell death (apoptosis).
Current evidence suggests that excessive oxygen levels may exacerbate this process –
this is the reason that air is now recommended for resuscitation of the newborn in the
first instance.
Clinical Features of Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy

• Clinical assessment of a baby following HIE is essential to guide treatment and
determine prognosis. In 1976, Sarnat and Sarnat published a staging system for
assessment of HIE that classified babies according to examination as stage 1 (mild), 2
(moderate) or 3 (severe).5 This allowed clinicians to predict the likely outcome of babies
with HIE, and a modified version forms the basis of standard assessment to this day
(Table 28.1).
• After a severe hypoxic insult, brain activity is initially suppressed during primary
energy failure, and clinically the baby is profoundly hypotonic. Reduced brain activity
and hypotonia persist through a latent phase often lasting several hours, until the
process of secondary energy failure begins.
• During this time, monitoring of brain activity using a cerebral function monitor
(CFM) shows reduced cortical activity. Following the latent phase, there is a release
of excitatory neurotransmitters within the brain associated with the baby developing
seizure activity. In severe HIE and neonatal encephalopathy, seizures often persist for
up to 5–7 days, reaching a maximal peak at 1–2 days.6
Management of HIE
• The mainstay of treatment for HIE is supportive, with respiratory support, seizure
control and implementation of nasogastric tube feeds often required, as well as
managing disruption to other organ systems.
• Following the results of recent studies of therapeutic hypothermia,7 this is now a
standard of care for babies with moderate or severe HIE (Sarnat stages 2 or 3) in
healthcare environments that are able to provide safe intensive care.8
• The CFM may be used to help make a more objective, early assessment of
encephalopathy when deciding which babies are likely to benefit from therapeutic
hypothermia. Hypothermia is moderate, with the aim to reduce core temperature to
between 33°C and 34°C for 72 hours, followed by gradual rewarming.
165
Chapter 28: Neonatal Implications of Intrapartum Fetal Hypoxia 165
Table 28.2 Comparison of outcomes for moderate vs severe HIE in the Cochrane meta-analysis of cooling
for HIE7
Treatment group
Therapeutic Standard care
Severity of HIE Outcome hypothermia (normothermia)
Moderate(Sarnat stage 2) Death 33/244 (13%) 53/232 (23%)
Death or major disability 89/243 (37%) 123/229 (54%)
Major disability in survivors assessed 56/211 (27%) 70/179 (39%)
Severe(Sarnat stage 3) Death 75/143 (52%) 96/142 (68%)
Death or major disability 100/143 (70%) 120/140 (86%)
Major disability in survivors assessed 26/68 (37%) *
24/47 (51%)*
*These results were not statistically significant in the subgroup analysis.
• MRI scanning 3–7 days after the hypoxic event and EEG/CFM add valuable
information to clinical assessment when determining prognosis and are routinely
performed in most centres offering therapeutic hypothermia.
• Regular discussions of the condition of the baby and likely outcome with parents are
essential throughout the stay in intensive care. In severely affected infants with stage 3
HIE that remain comatose, it is usually appropriate to discuss palliative care with the
parents, particularly if CFM/EEG and/or MRI scan show evidence of severe injury with
poor prognosis.
Outcomes
• Outcomes for babies with stage 1 HIE are good, with death or disability rates <1
per cent.
• In both moderate and severe encephalopathy (Sarnat stages 2 and 3), rates of death
or disability in a recent Cochrane meta-analysis7 were lower in babies receiving
therapeutic hypothermia (Table 28.2).
• Disability includes cerebral palsy and developmental delay as well as hearing and visual
disturbances. Overall risk of death or disability in severe HIE remains high despite
modern intensive care and therapeutic hypothermia, with only 30 per cent of babies
surviving without major disability.7
References or neonatal infection: association with

neonatal encephalopathy outcomes.
1. Newborn death and illness. WHO. Pediatr Res 2014;76(1):93–9.
Available from: www.who.int/ 4. Wu YW, Colford JM. Chorioamnionitis
pmnch/media/press_materials/fs/fs_ as a risk factor for cerebral palsy: a
newborndealth_illness/en/ meta-analysis. JAMA
2. Perinatal mortality 2009. CMACE. 2000;284(11):1417–24.
Available from: http://hqip.org.uk/assets/ 5. Sarnat HB, Sarnat MS. Neonatal
NCAPOP-Library/CMACE-Reports/35.- encephalopathy following fetal
March-2011-Perinatal-Mortality-2009.pdf distress. A clinical and
3. Jenster M, Bonifacio SL, Ruel T, Rogers electroencephalographic study.
EE, Tam EW, Partridge JC, et al. Maternal Arch Neurol 1976;33(10):696–705.
166
166 Chapter 28: Neonatal Implications of Intrapartum Fetal Hypoxia
6. Wyatt J. Applied physiology: brain 8. IPG347. Therapeutic hypothermia with

metabolism following perinatal asphyxia. intracorporeal temperature monitoring
Curr Paediatr 2002;12(3):227–31. for hypoxic perinatal brain injury. NICE.
7. Jacobs SE, Berg M, Hunt R, Tarnow- 2010. Available from: www.nice.org.uk/
Mordi WO, Inder TE, Davis guidance/ipg347
PG. Cooling for newborns with 9. Levene ML, Kornberg J, Williams TH. The
hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. incidence and severity of post-asphyxial
Cochrane Database Syst Rev encephalopathy in full-term infants. Early
2013;1:CD003311. Hum Dev 1985;11(1):21–6.
167
Role of the Anaesthetist in

Chapter
29 the Management of Fetal

Compromise during Labour
Anuji Amarasekara and Anthony Addei
Fetal asphyxia leads to fetal compromise, which, if not corrected or circumvented, will result
in decompensation of physiologic responses (primarily redistribution of blood flow to pre-
serve oxygenation of vital organs) and cause permanent central nervous system damage and
other damage or death.
Key Facts
• Anaesthetists participate directly and indirectly in the management of fetal
compromise during labour.
• Fetal well-being can be assessed during high-risk labour by electronic FHR monitoring
using a CTG to monitor changes in FHR.
• Decelerations and fetal bradycardia have been described after all types of effective
labour analgesia (epidural, spinal and combined spinal epidural, and intravenous
opioids).
• More dramatic hypoxia-inducing events include placental abruption, cord prolapse and
antepartum or intrapartum (fetal) haemorrhage.
• All these may lead to fetal compromise and may necessitate emergency delivery.
• Regardless of the aetiology of FHR abnormalities, it is important to manage these
changes correctly when they occur.
• Obstetric cases account for 0.8 per cent of general anaesthetics in the Fifth National
Audit Project (NAP5) on Accidental Awareness during General Anaesthesia (AAGA)
Activity Survey. However, obstetric cases account for approximately 10 per cent
of reports of AAGA, making it the most markedly overrepresented of all surgical
specialties.
Key Pathophysiology
• Reduction in oxygen delivery to the fetus is associated with fetal compromise.
○○ Metabolic acidosis results from persistent hypoxia via anaerobic metabolism and
production of lactic acid.
• Oxygen delivery to the fetus is dependent on maternal circulation, placental transfer
and fetal circulation.

167
168
168 Chapter 29: Role of the Anaesthetist
• Uterine oxygen delivery = uterine blood flow × arterial oxygen content. Uterine

blood flow is determined by perfusion pressure (arterial –venous pressure) and
resistance.
• Aortocaval compression occurs when the pregnant uterus compresses the inferior vena
cava and descending aorta within the abdomen. This can result in reduced blood flow
to the utero-placental unit and maternal hypotension. The effect is maximal in supine
position.
• In labour, intrauterine pressure increases during contractions. Initially the uterine
veins become compressed, and intervillous blood volume increases until intrauterine
pressure is sufficient to stop arterial flow.
• Placental oxygen transport occurs along a gradient from maternal to fetal blood.
• Fetal haemoglobin (HbF) has a higher affinity for oxygen than adult haemoglobin. The
fetus also has higher haemoglobin, 16.5 g/dL (range, 15–18.6 g/dL), which helps to
ensure adequate oxygen content.
• Oxygen carriage to vital organs of the fetus is also dependent on fetal cardiac output
and adequate umbilical circulation. Fetal stroke volume is relatively fixed, and FHR is
the major determinant of cardiac output.
• Occlusion of the umbilical cord will restrict delivery of oxygenated blood to the fetus
via the umbilical vein.
The method of anaesthesia may affect neonatal outcome by transplacental drug transfer and
by influencing maternal haemodynamics and hence placental perfusion.
Intrauterine fetal resuscitation (IUFR) can result in significant improvements in the con-
dition of the fetus.
• Rapid, coordinated, multidisciplinary approach is vital to minimizing fetal compromise
that can lead to permanent damage to the baby.
• The anaesthetist has a role in assessing the mother quickly and initiating or continuing
resuscitation as required.
• The goal of IUFR is to optimize the fetal condition in utero so that labour may continue
safely or to improve fetal well-being prior to emergency delivery.
• IUFR consists of simple (SPOILT) steps:
○○ Syntocinon: Stop syntocinon infusion to reduce the intensity and frequency of
uterine contractions, leading to improved placental perfusion.
○○ Position: Left lateral position of the mother to relieve aortocaval compression and
improve venous return and placental perfusion.
○○ Oxygen: High-flow oxygen with Hudson mask and reservoir bag to increase
maternal oxygen saturation (e.g. in cases of maternal collapse and maternal
hypoxia).
○○ IV fluids: Rapid fluid infusion to restore maternal vascular volume. This may also
help to dilute oxytocin in blood in cases of uterine hyperstimulation.
○○ Low BP: Vasopressor (phenylephrine 50 μg –100 μg increments; or ephedrine 3
mg –6 mg increments) if low maternal blood pressure.
○○ Tocolytics should be used to provide uterine relaxation to improve placental
oxygenation if there is evidence of uterine hyperstimulation.
169
Chapter 29: Role of the Anaesthetist 169
Key Issues
• In cases of significant fetal compromise unresponsive to IUFR, or which show only a
transient response, early delivery of the fetus may be indicated. Delivery by a ‘category
1’ caesarean section may be required.
• The decision as to the method of anaesthesia is a balance between degree of urgency
and level of concern about maternal risks of general anaesthesia. In cases of imminent
fetal demise, delays may become clinically significant.
• A controversial case series describing ‘rapid sequence spinal anaesthesia’ as an
alternative to general anaesthesia for urgent caesarean section has been published.
• Good communication helps to identify and prepare a plan for at-risk patients on the
labour ward who may become an emergency. This may make the difference between
the possibility of planned, timely regional anaesthesia and emergency general
anaesthetic.
• Obstetric anaesthesia is regarded as a high-risk subspecialty for AAGA.
• Undue haste in situations that are not true emergencies may cause maternal and/or
fetal harm due to anaesthesia and surgical complications.

• The use of IUFR is based on an understanding of maternal physiology, oxygen transfer,
effects of uterine contractions and evidence from numerous publications in literature.
• Variable decelerations may result from cord compression. Relief of such compression
may be achieved by trying several right or left lateral positions.
• Avoid prolonged maternal oxygen administration, which should only be administered
in cases of maternal hypoxia and maternal collapse.
• Care must be taken to avoid fluid overload in fluid-restricted patients (e.g.
preeclampsia, cardiac disease).
• Avoid tocolytics in antepartum haemorrhage and abruption.
• Be prepared for increased blood loss from a relaxed uterus.
• Electronic fetal monitoring should be restarted in theatre and maintained as long as
possible.
• Avoid maternal hypotension.
○○ Uterine blood flow is not subject to autoregulation. Uterine perfusion is therefore
correlated with blood pressure. A maternal pressure fall >20 per cent of baseline
systolic figure will produce a substantial reduction in uterine perfusion. This will
aggravate any acute intrapartum fetal compromise. Thorough evaluation, fluid
preloading, patient positioning and drugs can minimize the incidence and degree
of hypotension after sympathetic blockage from a spinal or epidural anaesthetic,
but it may occur even under the best circumstances. The anaesthetic management
can be challenging when acute intrapartum fetal compromise is superimposed on
chronic or preexisting fetal compromise. Underlying chronic fetal compromise
may be secondary to preeclampsia, hypertension, postmaturity or diabetes. These
disorders reduce fetal reserve and the ability to successfully mount a compensatory
response to intrapartum hypoxic stress. It is important to avoid even mild
hypotension in order to maintain uterine blood flow and placental perfusion in
such cases.
170
170 Chapter 29: Role of the Anaesthetist
Pitfalls
• Failure to change maternal position. (If fetal compromise persists, try right lateral
or knee-elbow position because umbilical cord compression rather than aortocaval
compression may be the cause).
• Failure to restart FHR monitoring in theatre.
• Routine oxygen administration to the mother.
○○ Fetal oxygen saturation depends on placental perfusion rather than maternal
oxygen saturation. The promotion and restoration of adequate fetal oxygen delivery
should take the form of appropriate maternal positioning, reduction of uterine
activity and appropriate intravenous fluid and vasopressor therapy to help ensure
adequate uterine blood flow. Supplemental oxygen should be used to improve
maternal oxygen saturation as required.
• Failure to communicate within a team may result in undue haste or delays.
References 6. Bogad D, Plaat F. Be wary of awareness –

lessons from NAP5 for obstetric
1. Parer JT, Livingston EG. What is anaesthetists. Int J Obstet Anesth
fetal distress? Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015;24:1–4.
1990;162:1421. 7. Simpson KR. Intrauterine resuscitation
2. Chandraharan E, Arulkumaran S. during labor: should maternal
Prevention of birth asphyxia: responding oxygen administration be a first-line
appropriately to cardiotocograph (CTG) measure? Semin Fetal Neonatal Med
traces. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2008;13(6):362–7.
2007;21(4):609–24. 8. Dyer RA, Schoeman LK. Fetal distress.
3. Maharaj D. Intrapartum fetal In: Ginosar Y, Reynolds F, Halpern S,
resuscitation: a review. Int J Gynec Obstet Weiner C, editors. Anesthesia and the fetus.
2007;9(2). UK: Wiley Blackwell; 2013.
4. Weale NK, Kinsella SM. Intrauterine fetal 9. Fawole B, Hofmeyr GJ. Maternal oxygen
resuscitation. Anaesth Intens Care Med administration for fetal distress. Cochrane
2007;8:282–5. Database Syst Rev 2012;12:CD0000136.
5. Kinsella SM, Girgirah K, Scrutton MJL. 10. Hamel MS, Anderson BL, Rouse DJ.
Rapid sequence spinal for category-1 Oxygen for intrauterine resuscitation: of
urgency caesarean section: a case series. unproved benefit and potentially harmful.
Anaesthesia 2010;65:664–9. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2014; 211(2):124–7.
171
Medico-legal Issues with CTG

Chapter
30 K. Muhunthan and Sabaratnam Arulkumaran
Background
• Cardiotocography refers to the recording of fetal heart rate (FHR) and contractions
(tocography).
• Continuous electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) has become a standard practice in high-
risk pregnancies and labour in the Western world.
• Despite severely abnormal CTG changes, failure of timely action and nonconsideration
of the clinical situation leads to a compromised fetus.
• In-utero fetal death in labour, neonatal death and cerebral palsy associated with
abnormal CTGs and asphyxia lead to medical litigation.
Key Facts
Medical negligence involves establishing the causation and liability.
• Presence of abnormal CTG, low Apgar score, low cord arterial pH, assisted ventilation,
admission to neonatal intensive care, moderate or severe neonatal encephalopathy and
subsequent neurological damage point to asphyxia as a possible cause.
• However, several intrinsic fetal disorders (e.g. severe hypoglycaemia) cause
neurological disability, and an abnormal CTG may have been coincidental.
• Causation is best determined by neuroradiologist and paediatric neurologist. The fetus
born at term demonstrates certain areas of scarring within the brain on MRI. The
thalamus, basal ganglia injury show scarring, reflecting acute profound hypoxia while
prolonged partial hypoxia results in bilateral cortical atrophy.1 Paediatric neurologist
supports these findings by demonstrating that the baby has athetoid or dyskinetic
cerebral palsy with acute profound hypoxia and spastic quadriplegia with prolonged
partial hypoxia.2
• Liability is determined by demonstrating that appropriate and timey action was not
taken in the presence of an abnormal CTG in that clinical situation.3
• Expert opinion is requested to judge whether care provided fell short of what was
expected (Bolam principle).4

There are few key CTG patterns that are recognized to be associated with fetal compromise
and are described below with example CTGs.5

171
172
172 Chapter 30: Medico-legal Issues with CTG
Figure 30.1 Acute hypoxia.
Acute Hypoxia
• Presents with profound deceleration with a heart rate <80 bpm (Figure 30.1).
• The pH can drop on an average by 0.01 per minute.6,7 The outcome of the fetus/
newborn would depend on the physiological reserve of the fetus, actual heart rate
(whether it is 40 or 60 bpm), duration of prolonged deceleration before delivery and
cause for prolonged deceleration (e.g. abruption placentae, cord prolapse or scar
rupture).
• An example of prolonged deceleration or bradycardia is given below. If prolonged,
it can cause fetal death, or if born asphyxiated, it may lead to neurological injury
associated with acute profound hypoxia.
• The thalamus and basal ganglia region gets affected and leads to athetoid or dyskinetic
type of cerebral palsy.
• An example of such a trace is shown in Figure 30.1.
Subacute Hypoxia
• Presents with prolonged decelerations (Figure 30.2).
• The FHR is below baseline rate for a longer time (e.g. >60 to 90 seconds) than at
baseline rate (<30 seconds).8
• With such FHR, there is less than optimal circulation through the placenta over a given
time, especially if the FHR drops to <80 bpm. With such a trace (Figure 30.2), some of
the fetuses would get compromised with the progression of acidosis of approximately
0.01 every 2–3 minutes.
Gradually Developing Hypoxia

The CTG trace usually starts with a normal baseline rate, normal baseline variability, accel-
erations and no decelerations.
Once decelerations start due to cord compression (variable decelerations) or reduced
placental reserve (late decelerations), hypoxia can set in leading to catecholamine surge and
rise in the baseline rate.
173
Chapter 30: Medico-legal Issues with CTG 173
Figure 30.2 Subacute hypoxia.
Figure 30.3 Gradually evolving hypoxia with loss of baseline variability.
With increasing hypoxia, accelerations do not appear and decelerations get deeper and
wider (i.e. longer duration).
The FHR reaches a peak rate beyond which it is unable to increase the FHR. Even with
this rate, if oxygenation to the autonomic system cannot be maintained, the baseline vari-
ability tends to get gradually reduced to almost flat baseline variability (Figure 30.3).
In the presence of normal baseline variability, 97 percent of the times the pH is likely to
be >7.0.9
When acidosis gets worse, within a short period the heart rate comes down and becomes
asystolic and may end as a stillbirth.
If delivered at the ‘peak’ heart rate after 1 to 2 hours of the FHR baseline variability
becoming ‘flat’ (‘distress platform’), the baby may be born asphyxiated (hypoxia in the tis-
sues and metabolic acidosis) and may suffer neurological injury or bilateral cortical injury
leading to cerebral palsy with spastic quadriparesis due to prolonged partial hypoxia.1
Figure 30.3 gives an example of gradually developing hypoxia that has gone into the stage
of possible acidosis that may lead to an asphyxiated baby.
174
Figure 30.4 Chronic or long-standing hypoxia.
Long-standing or Preexisting Hypoxia

• A fetus that is hypoxic and with early evidence of acidosis may show a nonreactive trace
(no accelerations) with absent or markedly reduced baseline variability and shallow
decelerations (blunted CNS response) to hypoxic stress produced by contractions.
• A fetus with such a trace may withstand the stress of contractions for variable number
of hours without any change on the CTG trace before the fetus gets severely acidotic
and has a cardiovascular collapse.
• Such a trace is shown in Figure 30.4. If delivered earlier, the fetus would be in a better
condition.
• Not all the fetuses may be neurologically affected, and with such a trace, earlier the
delivery better the outcome.
• Figure 30.4 is an example of a CTG trace where the fetus may be already acidotic.
Anaemia and Sinusoidal CTG Trace

Causes could be:10
• Physiological –sucking the thumb, smacking its lips –as demonstrated by ultrasound
examination.
• Pathological –a severe anaemia causes a sinusoidal pattern although the mechanism is
not known.
Causes for fetal anaemia:
• Rhesus sensitization, Kell, Duff antibodies
• ABO antibodies give rise to neonatal jaundice, not fetal anaemia
• Lewis a and b and M and N antibodies usually do not cause fetal anaemia.
• Parvo virus infection.
• Fetomaternal transfusion.
• Vasa praevia and bleeding due to the rupture of vessels.
• Alpha thalassemia.
175
Figure 30.5 Typical sinusoidal trace secondary to chronic fetal anaemia.

• Acute hypoxia is due to reversible (hypotension due to epidural, vaginal examination,
artificial rupture of membranes and, at times, no cause may be identified) and
nonreversible causes (abruption, cord prolapse, scar rupture). To maintain normal
blood gases and pH, the FHR may be at 140 bpm, i.e. 1,400 circulations through the
placenta per minute. When the FHR is 80 bpm, there are only 800 circulations through
the placenta, i.e. misses 600 circulations. This causes a marked reduction in CO2
expulsion and accumulation in the fetus and respiratory acidosis, and in addition, the
reduction in oxygen intake promotes anaerobic metabolism and metabolic acidosis.
Hence the drop of pH is approximately 0.01 per minute. In addition, there is impact of
coronary filling as well.
• Subacute hypoxia is usually due to intermittent prolonged cord compression that may
be exaggerated by oxytocin infusion or posture. The more the FHR is below baseline
FHR and the lower the FHR, the higher is the lack of oxygen intake and expulsion of
CO2, i.e. suboptimal circulation which leads to build up of acidosis.
• Gradually developing hypoxia is due to ongoing cord compression interfering with
umbilical cord flow (variable decelerations) or due to a reduction of retroplacental
blood flow (late decelerations). With gradual reduction of oxygen and hypoxia, there
is catecholamine surge that increases baseline FHR and peripheral vasoconstriction.
Despite the increase in FHR, if there is time taken for coronary filling is inadequate,
then decelerations become deeper and of longer duration. A further reduction of
oxygen to the fetus affects the autonomic system resulting in a marked reduction in
baseline variability.
• Long-standing hypoxia is due to nonrecognized intrauterine growth restriction,
infection, prolonged pregnancy, placental malfunction (i.e. usually placental
insufficiency). The central nervous system may be under the influence of hypoxia, thus
resulting in blunted response and shallow decelerations. Additional contractions would
cause further acidosis and sudden bradycardia and collapse.
• A sinusoidal pattern of concern is due to fetal anaemia. The exact mechanism by which
anaemia produces a sinusoidal pattern is not known. It is believed to be due to acidosis
to the brain centres.
176
• In acute hypoxia, the 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 rule is useful.11 Three minutes of low FHR makes
it a CTG of concern. If it is due to irreversible causes of abruption, cord prolapse or
scar rupture, steps should be taken for immediate delivery. If the CTG is abnormal
prior to bradycardia/prolonged deceleration or if there is evidence of clinical
compromise (e.g. IUGR, thick meconium), steps for delivery should be taken by
6 minutes and in others by 9 minutes if conservative measures of postural change,
stopping oxytocin and tocolytics when needed do not reverse bradycardia/prolonged
deceleration. Earlier the delivery, better the condition and aim for delivery within 15
to 30 minutes.
• In subacute hypoxia, conservative measures of change of posture, hydration, stopping
oxytocin and tocolytics should be considered as needed, but if the FHR does not return
to near normality, operative delivery is advised unless spontaneous vaginal delivery is
imminent. Caesarean or instrumental delivery should be undertaken depending on the
stage of labour within 30 to 40 minutes.12
• In gradually developing hypoxia, delivery should be undertaken when there is
maximal rise in baseline rate with increasing depth and duration of decelerations
with reduction of interdeceleration intervals and marked reduction in baseline
variability for a period of 1 hour unless fetal scalp pH shows that further
observation is safe.
• In long-standing hypoxic patterns, early delivery (40–60 minutes) should be
undertaken in the presence of significant meconium, absence of fetal movements,
bleeding per vagina, IUGR or prolonged pregnancy. In the absence of such
symptoms, observation could be continued for up to 90 minutes before consideration
of delivery.
• In sinusoidal patterns, if fetal anaemia is suspected by blood group antibody testing,
Kelihauer–B etke test for fetomaternal transfusion, or increased blood flow velocity
of fetal middle cerebral artery, then delivery should be undertaken. In addition
to sinusoidal, if late decelerations are present with contractions, early delivery is
advised.
Key Tips to Optimize Management

• Better understanding of the significance of CTG patterns based on pathophysiology
(attending master classes, appropriate e-learning programs, books, in-hospital case
reviews with CTG).
• CTG is an investigation, and hence management decision should be based on the
clinical situation in addition to CTG.
• Requesting a senior person to review CTGs when in doubt.
• Central monitoring systems that help other people also to observe the CTG
(‘neighbourhood watch’) and discuss it with the caregiver.
• Where possible and appropriate to use adjunct methods –fetal ECG (STAN
monitoring) or fetal scalp blood sampling (FBS) for pH or lactate.
• Appropriate and timely intervention when conservative measures do not reverse the
CTG pattern.
• Adequate staffing including senior staff and ready availability of theatre facilities.
177
Pitfalls
Based on the Fourth Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy (CESDI)
and reports from the National Health Services Litigations Authority (NHSLA),13,14 the com-
mon pitfalls are:
• Inability to interpret the CTG trace
• Failure to incorporate the clinical picture
• Delay in taking action
• Poor communication between team members
Failure to incorporate the clinical feature can be due either to a preexisting situation making
the fetus at risk where acidosis can develop faster with an abnormal CTG compared to an
appropriately grown fetus at term with clear liquor or to injudicious management that puts
the fetus at risk. They are listed below:
Fetus at Risk
• Preterm
• Postterm
• Intrauterine growth restriction
• Thick meconium with scanty fluid
• Intrauterine infection
• Intrapartum bleeding
Fetus at Possible Risk Due to Injudicious Management

• Injudicious use of oxytocin
• Epidural in advanced labour and with a CTG showing abnormal pattern
• Difficult instrumental delivery, shoulder dystocia, vaginal breech delivery
• Acute events (cord prolapse, abruption, scar rupture)
• Suspicious/abnormal admission FHR on CTG or auscultation
Mismanagement leads to a situation from normoxaemia to hypoxaemia (lack of oxygen in
blood) to hypoxia (lack of oxygen in tissue) and asphyxia (lack of oxygen in tissue and meta-
bolic acidosis).
Hypoxia and metabolic acidosis leads to cell dysfunction in various tissues and may
present as:
1. Heart failure
2. Pneumocytes type 2 injury lead to less surfactant factor
3. GI system ‘necrotizing enterocolitis’
4. Renal failure
5. Endothelial damage leads to DIC (disseminated intravascular coagulation)
6. CNS –cerebral oedema, seizures or coma (grades II and III neonatal encephalopathy).
Cell death could lead to cerebral palsy.
7. Stillbirth or neonatal death
178
Figure 30.6
• Needless to say, mismanagement leads to medical litigation. Litigation can also

be an unpleasant experience and have significant long-term consequences for the
working lives for healthcare staff involved.
• Escalating costs of claims and insurance premiums have led to a major concern for
maternity service providers across most of the countries.14
• Malpractice fears are also believed to have contributed, in small part, to the rising
defensive practice in obstetrics.15
• Anyhow, most malpractice claims seem to be unrelated to the incompetence of
an individual provider but to systemic failures that overwhelm competent people
working in a highly imperfect and complex environment.
• Report published by NHSLA in October 2012 provides an analysis of the various
clinical situations that have led to maternity claims. In a 10-year analysis of
maternity claims (between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2010), there were 5,087
claims with a total value of £3.1 billion.14
• This amounts to <0.1 percent of births, indicating that the vast majority of births do
not result in a clinical negligence claim.
Exercise
A 28-year-old gravida 2 is in spontaneous normal labour. She has no high-risk factors and
she is in the active second stage of labour. She was monitored for audible abnormality of the
FHR. Abdominally the fetus was estimated to be 3.8 kg and the head was 0/5th palpable.
Vaginally there was clear amniotic fluid, she was fully dilated, and the occiput was in left
occipito transverse position at station 0 to +1. There is ++ caput and ++ moulding. The CTG
trace is shown in Figure 30.6.
1. Describe your plan of action.
a. Observe for another hour
b. Perform FBS
c. Perform caesarean section
d. Perform instrumental delivery
e. Give acute tocolysis and await further descent
179
References 8. Cahill AG, Kimberly AR, Odibo AO,

Maconaes GA. Association and prediction
1. Myers RE. Four patterns of perinatal brain of neonatal acidaemia. Am J Obstet Gynecol
damage and the conditions of occurrence 2012;207:206–8.
in primates. Advances in neurology. Vol. X. 9. Williams KP, Galerneau F. Intrapartum
Eds. BS Meldrum and CD Marsden. Raven fetal heart rate patterns in the prediction
Press, New York. 1975; pp. 223–34. of neonatal acidemia. Am J Obstet Gynecol
2. MacLennan A. A template for 2003;188:820–3.
defining a causal relation between 10. Cardiotocographic interpretation: more
acute intrapartum events and cerebral difficult problems. Sinusoidal pattern.
palsy: international consensus statement. Fetal monitoring in practice. Third edition.
BMJ 1999;319:1054–9. Eds. G Donald and S Arulkumaran.
3. Williams B, Arulkumaran S. Butterworth Heinemann, Oxford. 2008;
Cardiotocography and medico-legal pp. 159–88.
issues. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 11. Intrapartum care. Care of healthy women
2004;18(3):457–66. and their babies during childbirth. NICE
4. Electronic fetal monitoring: medico- clinical guideline 190, December 2014,
legal issues. Fetal monitoring in practice. pp 39–57.
Second edition. Eds. G Donald and S 12. The role of scal pH. Fetal monitoring in
Arulkumaran. Butterworth Heinemann, practice. Third edition. Eds. G Donald and
Oxford. 2008; pp. 225–9. S Arulkumaran. Butterworth Heinemann,
5. Arulkumaran S. Fetal surveillance in Oxford. 2008; pp. 189–203.
labour. Munro Kerr’s operative obstetrics. 13. Confidential enquiry into stillbirths and
Twelfth edition. Eds. TF Baskett, AA deaths in infancy. Fourth annual report.
Calder and S Arulkumaran. Saunders 1997. Maternal and Child Health Research
Elsevier, Ediburgh. 2014; pp. 41–56. Consortium.
6. Ingemarsson I, Arulkumaran S, Ratnam 14. Ten years of maternity claims. An analysis
SS. Single injection of terbutaline in of NHS Litigation Authority data. NHS
term labor. Effect on fetal pH in cases Litigation Authority. October 2012.
with prolonged bradycardia. Am J Obstet
Gynecol 1985;153:859–65. 15. Schifrin BS, Cohen WR. The effect of
malpractice claims on the use of caesarean
7. Leung TY, Chung PW, Rogers MS, section. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol
et al. Urgent caesarean delivery for 2012:S1521-6934(12)00165-4.
fetal bradycardia. Obstet Gynecol
2009;114(5):1023–8.
180
Ensuring Competency in
Chapter
31 Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring

The Role of GIMS
Virginia Lowe and Edwin Chandraharan
Background
St George’s Maternity Unit employs CTG and fetal ECG (ST-Analyser or STAN) to assess
fetal well-being during labour. Both these tests require clinicians to have sufficient knowl-
edge and expertise in order to recognize and correctly interpret common CTG changes. To
understand the importance of these changes requires an understanding of the pathophysi-
ology of FHR control and hypoxia, and, additionally, the knowledge of associated clinical
circumstances is essential in order to ensure appropriate management. The ‘Confidential
Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy’ report in the mid-1990s concluded that 50 per
cent of intrapartum-related deaths could have been prevented if the clinicians involved had
instituted alternative management. Lack of knowledge regarding CTG interpretation was
identified as a significant factor within the report, as well as failure to incorporate the whole
clinical picture, incorrect or delayed action and communication/common sense issues. The
Chief Medical Officer’s report ‘Intrapartum-Related Deaths: 500 Missed Opportunities’ in
2007 has also highlighted the above issues as recurring themes in obstetric care.
St George’s Intrapartum Monitoring Strategy (GIMS) comprises intensive, physiology-
based CTG training, use of fetal ECG (STAN) to reduce the false-positive rate of CTG and a
mandatory competency testing for all midwives and obstetricians. This combination aims to
deepen the appreciation clinicians have for the intricacies of fetal monitoring and promotes
consistency across the service.
Objectives
1. To ensure that all staff (midwives and obstetricians –trainees, middle-grade doctors
and consultants) who interpret CTG/STAN traces are comprehensively trained.
2. To ensure that all staff continuously update their knowledge and skills in fetal
monitoring.
3. To ensure competency in CTG/STAN interpretation by providing training as well as
conducting an assessment process.
4. To provide support to staff who do not perform up to 85 per cent competency in CTG/
STAN interpretation to maintain a high standard of care.

180
181
Chapter 31: Ensuring Competency in Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring 181
Strategies
Intense Physiology-Based CTG Training
This involves a deeper understanding of fetal pathophysiology: instead of morphologically
classifying decelerations as ‘early’, ‘variable’ and ‘late’, the underlying mechanism is explored
(e.g. baroreceptor-or chemoreceptor-mediated) as well as the fetal response to ongoing
hypoxic or mechanical stresses. In addition, education focusses on the consideration of
the features of the type of intrapartum (acute, subacute or a gradually evolving) or chronic
(long-standing) fetal hypoxia on the CTG trace and encourages differentiation of a compen-
satory fetal response from decompensation. Case scenarios are discussed in depth to rein-
force the importance of considering the whole clinical picture and to embed learning points.
Use of Fetal ECG (STAN)

Fetal ECG is used to determine the energy balance within a central organ (myocardium)
so as to identify the onset of myocardial glycogenolysis as a mechanism to maintain energy
balance with the onset of anaerobic metabolism. This may help reduce the false-positive rate
of CTG while improving perinatal outcomes. See Chapter 22.
Competency Testing
The assessment tool comprises questions on ‘pattern recognition’ as determined by current
guidelines on intrapartum FHR monitoring; knowledge of fetal pathophysiology including
the types of hypoxia; questions on situational awareness and considering the wider clinical
picture (e.g. recognition of features of MHR, injudicious use of syntocinon etc.). There is
an agreed policy within the unit which summarizes the expectations, an extract of which is
shown below:
Training and Assessment

a. New Staff
All new staff (midwives and all grades of obstetricians involved in intrapartum fetal monitor-
ing) will be provided CTG/STAN training as part of their induction. After their training, they
will be required to obtain 85 per cent competency in assessment in both CTG as well as STAN to
demonstrate their knowledge in intrapartum fetal monitoring.
Obstetricians are required to attend weekly CTG meetings, which are held on Tuesdays and
Fridays, to update their knowledge and skills in CTG/STAN interpretation. It is recommended that
they attend at least two such meetings every month. Minimum requirements would be to attend
CTG Meetings at least once a month and to attend at least 12 meetings in 6 months or to complete
the online CTG Assessment Tool at least twice in 6 months. Midwives are strongly encouraged to
attend as often as shift pattern permits.
b. Existing Staff
All staff are expected to undergo a formal CTG Training (minimum 3 hours) once every 12
months, in addition to attending the CTG Meetings as stated earlier.
All staff who have passed the assessments in CTG/STAN will be required to re-sit the test at
least once every two years, or earlier, if required (for example if they are involved in two or more
adverse incidents which involved failures in CTG/STAN interpretation or they have been involved
182
182 Chapter 31: Ensuring Competency in Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring
30
25
Total CS %
20
Percent
15 Instrumental vaginal
births
10
Emergency CS %
5
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
n=5167 n=5114 n=5324 n=5328 (jan-sep)
n=3804
Error bars shows 95% Cl
Figure 31.1 Trends in total and emergency caesarean section rates.
with an SI where failure to interpret CTG/STAN by the clinician concerned contributed to the poor
outcome).
Outcomes
The approach to intrapartum FHR monitoring has resulted in a significant reduction
in intrapartum emergency section rate from 15 per cent in 2008 to 8 per cent in 2012
(Figure 31.1). Despite commencing a regional service for morbidly adherent placentae and
a regional bariatric service, both of which may increase the total caesarean section rate,
currently the emergency caesarean section rate remains between 6.1 and 8.2 per cent. The
neonatal metabolic acidosis rate as well as the HIE rates have also halved during this period
(Figure 31.2), and currently, the maternity unit has half the nationally reported HIE rate in
the United Kingdom.
Discussion
CTG interpretation that relies on ‘pattern recognition’ is fraught with inter-and intra-
observer variability, leading to overdiagnosis as well as failure to recognize features of
ongoing intrapartum hypoxia. These errors may lead to unnecessary intrapartum opera-
tive interventions and hypoxic-ischaemic injury, respectively. The St George’s approach to
intrapartum FHR monitoring focusses on fetal physiology and a deeper understanding of
the features observed on the CTG trace so as to avoid flaws of ‘pattern recognition’ and has
resulted in halving of intrapartum caesarean section and adverse perinatal outcome rates.
This training is facilitated by a group of clinicians with a particular interest in fetal monitor-
ing, including midwives employed as CTG specialists who maintain competency records
183
Chapter 31: Ensuring Competency in Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring 183
Trends in Neonatal Metabolic Acidosis and HIE
HIE (per 1000) Metabolic Acidosis (%)
2.2
1.5
2.4 1.03
1.8
0.6
1.3
1.1
2004-2006 2007-2009 2010-2012 2012-2013
Arrow- Commencement of Intense training on Fetal Physiology

Double Arrow- Introduction of Mandatory Competency Testing
Figure 31.2 Rates of neonatal metabolic acidosis rate and HIE rate.
and can be available for one-to-one support. Introducing mandatory competency testing is
not without its challenges: there can be a level of anxiety around the formal assessment pro-
cess, and a clear pathway is required where competency is not achieved in order to maintain
patient safety. These issues are mitigated by ensuring all clinicians involved in CTG training
maintain a strong clinical presence and, therefore, are in a position to take advantage of
educational opportunities in practice and provide consistent support while also maintain-
ing credibility and an appreciation of the challenges faced by frontline staff. Where clinically
appropriate, STAN is routinely employed as a ‘central organ test’ to reduce the false-positive
rate of CTG. Although meta-analysis has not reported any significant decrease in caesar-
ean section rates and gives conflicting information about reduction in neonatal metabolic
acidosis, data from St George shows that the use of STAN in combination with an intensive
physiology-based CTG training and mandatory competency testing may result in signifi-
cant improvement in perinatal outcomes while reducing unnecessary intrapartum operative
interventions.
Conclusion
All maternity units should consider training midwives and obstetricians in fetal physiology
so as to critically analyse the pathophysiological mechanisms behind the features observed
on the CTG trace. This may avoid errors due to inter-and intra-observer variations sec-
ondary to merely relying on ‘pattern recognition’ based on existing guidelines. This train-
ing should be followed up by mandatory competency testing on CTG interpretation. Once
the staff are fully trained in fetal pathophysiology, the use of STAN appears to significantly
reduce intrapartum emergency caesarean section rates and improve perinatal outcomes
(neonatal metabolic acidosis and HIE rates).
184
184 Chapter 31: Ensuring Competency in Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring
Further Reading appropriately to cardiotocograph (CTG)

traces. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol
1. Ayres-de-Campos D, Arteiro D, 2007;21(4):609e24.
Costa-Santos C, et al. Knowledge 6. Chandraharan E, Lowe V, Ugwumadu
of adverse neonatal outcome alters A, Arulkumaran S. Impact of fetal
clinicians’ interpretation of the ECG (STAN) and competency based
intrapartum cardiotocograph. BJOG training on intrapartum interventions
2011;118(8):978e84. and perinatal outcomes at a teaching
2. Nurani R, Chandraharan E, Lowe V, et al. hospital in London: 5 year analysis. BJOG
Misidentification of maternal heart rate 2013;120(s1):428–429.
as fetal on cardiotocography during the 7. Pinas A, Chandraharan E. Continuous
second stage of labor: the role of the fetal cardiotocography during labour: analysis,
electrocardiograph. Acta Obstet Gynecol classification and management.
Scan 2012;91(12):1428e32. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol
3. McDonnell S, Chandraharan E. The 2015;25:S1521-6934.
pathophysiology of CTGs and types of 8. Chandraharan E, Lowe V, Penna L,
intrapartum hypoxia. Curr Wom Health Ugwumadu A, Arulkumaran S. Does
Rev 2013;9:158e68. ‘process based’ training in fetal monitoring
4. Chandraharan E, Lowe V, Arulkumaran S. improve knowledge of cardiotocograph
Pathological decelerations on CTG: time (CTG) among midwives and obstetricians?
for FPS or FBS? Int J Obstet Gynecol Book of Abstracts. Ninth RCOG
2012:S309. International Scientific Meeting, Athens,
5. Chandraharan E, Arulkumaran S. 2011. www.rcog.org.uk/events/rcog-
Prevention of birth asphyxia: responding congresses/athens-2011
185
Physiology-Based CTG Training

Chapter
32 Does It Really Matter?

Sara Ledger and Edwin Chandraharan
Key Facts
Baby Lifeline’s Role in CTG Training
Baby Lifeline is a unique, UK-based mother-and-baby charity that was established in 1981
after its founder tragically lost three premature babies successively. Its mission is to ensure
the healthiest outcome possible in pregnancy and birth; it does this by developing evidence-
based, highly relevant, vital training for multidisciplinary teams working in the maternity
sector. Course topics and content are chosen based on recommendations from confiden-
tial enquiries and pertinent reports highlighting key areas of suboptimal care within the
maternity sector. The Charity was established in 1981 and started its important relation-
ship with multidisciplinary training in 1999, following on from recommendations from the
Confidential Enquiry into Stillbirths and Deaths’ (CESDI) fourth annual report.1
Centres and Delegates

Baby Lifeline staged its first CTG masterclass in 2005, and demand has increased each year,
with a total of 10 one-day courses and one two-day course being held in 2015 at multiple
centres across the United Kingdom and Channel Islands. Baby Lifeline has staged a total of
42 physiology-based CTG study-days since 2005 in 27 different centres. Over 1,840 mul-
tiprofessional delegates (79 per cent midwives, 16 per cent obstetricians, 5 per cent legal
professionals) have attended masterclasses from a diverse range of maternity units and
organizations within the United Kingdom and internationally.
Structure and Aim of Masterclass

The structure of the courses consists of 1-day (‘CTG Master Class: Fundamentals of Fetal
Monitoring’) and two-day courses (‘CTG Master Class: A Deeper Understanding’) with
postcourse materials to cement knowledge and enable delegates to carry out vital, evidence-
based modifications to practice.
The aim of the masterclass is to provide evidence-based training on CTG interpreta-
tion based on fetal physiology and pathophysiology of intrapartum hypoxic injury so as to
reduce hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy while reducing unnecessary operative interven-
tions. Delegates are invited to engage with CTG traces and thought-provoking research and
look reflectively at their own practice, centred on logical physiology-based reasoning.

185
186
186 Chapter 32: Physiology-Based CTG Training
How do you rate the overall quality of the education

offered by this day?
1200
78%
1000
800
600 No. of Delegates

Responses
400
200 20%
0% 2% 0%
0
Poor (0%) Satisfactory Good Very Good Excellent
Figure 32.1 A graph to show postcourse delegates’ responses regarding overall quality of education of both 1-
day and 2-day CTG masterclass (2005–2015).
Will the day effectively influence your practice?
500
450 51%
400
350
300 37% No. of Delegates
250 Responses
200
150
100
11%
50 1%
0%
0
Ineffective Partly Quite Definitely Very Effective
(Learnt Effective Effective (I Effective (I (I intend to
nothing (Confirmed will consider intend to modify my
relevant to there is no modifying my modify my practice in a
my practice) need to practice after practice in a major way)
modify my seeking more minor way)
practice) information)
Figure 32.2 A graph to show postcourse delegates’ responses regarding the effectiveness of 1-day and 2-day
CTG masterclasses at influencing practice.
Key Outcomes
Delegate Feedback
Structural feedback has been excellent, with 98 per cent of delegates reporting that the qual-
ity of education was ‘Very Good’ (20 per cent) or ‘Excellent’ (78 per cent) (Figure 32.1).
Interestingly, Figure 32.2 illustrates that, of the 914 delegates that responded following the
course, only 10 (1 per cent) felt that the study-day confirmed that there was no need to mod-
ify their practice. The remaining 99 per cent reported that they intended to modify practice
in a minor or major way (88 per cent), or they would consider modifying their practice after
187
Chapter 32: Physiology-Based CTG Training 187
900
800
700
600
500
400 Precourse
300 Postcourse
200
100
0
Strongly Disagree Neutral Agree Strongly
disagree agree
Figure 32.3 A graph to show how many delegates agreed or disagreed with statements relating to how
confident they felt about course objectives precourse and postcourse.
seeking more information (11 per cent). The majority of respondent delegates (51 per cent)
intended to modify their practice in a major way following the course.
Anonymised delegate responses to statements relating to key course objectives also infer
that the CTG masterclass would have an effective influence on practice. Delegate confidence
in knowledge was quantitatively measured by using a five-point Likert scale ranging from
‘Strongly Disagree’ to ‘Strongly Agree’ to the statements below:
I understand the control of fetal heart rate and the factors that affect the features observed on
the Cardiotocograph (CTG).
I understand the types of intrapartum hypoxia and resultant features observed on the CTG
Trace.
I appreciate the wider clinical picture; such as, inflammation, infection and meconium whilst inter-
preting CTG Traces.
I feel confident in my application of National Guidelines and additional tests of fetal well-being.
I feel confident in my recognition of processes whilst interpreting CTG Traces.
The variance in responses pre-and postcourse showed an increase in confidence postcourse.

On average, across all statements and delegates that completed the tests, an increase of 35
per cent delegates reportedly ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ with the preceding statements than
prior to the course. A total of 94 per cent ‘agreed’ or ‘strongly agreed’ that they were confi-
dent and understood the key knowledge points postcourse, as opposed to 59 per cent prior
to the course (Figure 32.3).
Increased confidence in technical skills inevitably promotes shared learning of evidence-
based practice on labour wards and could lead to increased patient safety.
“This has been an excellent day. I feel totally inspired. I hope to instigate positive changes to my
practice and, as a team leader, that of others.”
“This is an excellent course. I have learned more today than in 16 years of training. I will try and
constitute this management in my unit.”
188
1.2
1
NICE
0.8 Acceleration
FBS
0.6
Decelerat
0.4 Variability
Hypoxia
0.2 pH
0
Pre-test Post-test
Figure 32.4 Pre-and post-test results of 810 delegates. Note the significant improvement in all parameters tested
after training.
One of the best study days I have attended. Qualified in 1977! (2014)

I found the course extremely interesting, motivating and empowering … I now feel far more confi-
dent in my knowledge of physiology, therefore more confident in my interpretation. (2014)
Impact of Training: Pre-and Post-Tests

Eight hundred and ten midwives and obstetricians underwent 10 questions on NICE guide-
lines, type of intrapartum hypoxia, fetal response to stress as well as decision making (e.g. per-
forming fetal blood sampling or operative interventions) before the commencement of the
CTG masterclass (the ‘Pre-Test’). They answered the same questions after 8 hours of intense,
physiology-based CTG training (the ‘Post-Test’). Figure 32.4 shows significant improvement
in the knowledge of NICE guidelines, understanding of the types of hypoxia, fetal response
as well as on decision making. This illustrates the positive impact of physiology-based CTG
training on improving knowledge and decision making among midwives and obstetricians.
Key Challenges to Multiprofessional Training in

Physiology-Based CTG Interpretation
Many reports and national bodies have recommended that improvements to training would
lead to improvements in safety and outcomes.1–4 However, despite these recommendations,
investment in external CPD (continuous professional development) courses appears to be
insufficient. A recent survey was completed by delegates that attended Baby Lifeline’s train-
ing in the first half of 2014; it showed that 59 per cent of delegates had to self-fund the cost
of attending courses, including travel and accommodation, or were given a fully funded
or part-funded place by Baby Lifeline (Figure 32.5). An additional 5 per cent of delegates
conveyed that places were paid for by Royal Colleges or unions (‘other’). Just 38 per cent of
delegates reported that they were supported by their organization to attend the training, 2
per cent of which were legal professionals.
189
Other
Part-Funded by Baby Lifeline
Fully-Funded by Baby Lifeline Delegate Reported Funding for

Baby Life line Courses in 2014
Trust/Organisation
Self-Funded
0 10 20 30 40
Figure 32.5 A graph to show how delegates self-reportedly paid for Baby Lifeline study-day places in the first half
of 2014. The graph shows the percentage of responses for each answer.
These findings support a report published by The King’s Fund in 2008, which investi-
gated healthcare professionals’ views about safety in maternity services. In the short ques-
tionnaire, clinicians reported a ‘general feeling that there are insufficient funds for CPD’,5
with many of the direct quotes communicating a great degree of familiarity:
Midwives should have paid time away from their work environment to reflect on practice and learn
from difficult situations. They should not be expected to study in their annual leave and to pay for
this study time. (Midwife/independent midwife, 3–10 years’ experience) (p.15)
In order to alleviate some of the financial pressures on both self-funding delegates and
financially crippled NHS organizations, Baby Lifeline gained support from sympathetic law
firms, leading training equipment manufacturers and voluntary expert faculty; this ena-
bled Baby Lifeline to offer study-days at subsidized rates to all delegates, which is in fact 75
per cent less than the course fee of some professional bodies that conduct CTG courses in
the United Kingdom. Despite low costs for training and some fully funded places, delegate
attendance was lower than anticipated in 2014. CTG masterclasses with delegate numbers as
low as 18 were delivered in some regions of the United Kingdom. This is likely to reflect the
staffing pressures experienced by many maternity units and the inability of staff to get time
off to attend training.
Patterns in the structural differences of Baby Lifeline’s CTG courses (1 day and 2 days)
may also reflect an adjusted culture due to underresourced maternity units and, conse-
quently, limited study leave. From 2011 to 2012, 80 per cent of CTG masterclasses staged
by Baby Lifeline were the 2-day masterclasses; however, this fell to 17 per cent from 2013
to 2015.
Another key challenge for physiology-based CTG training is the current guideline on
CTG interpretation which has been published by the National Institute of Health and Care
Excellence (NICE), is based on pattern recognition. It is quite alarming that even 5 years
after the publication of NICE guidelines on CTG interpretation in 2007,6 <50 per cent of
delegates answered questions on NICE guidelines correctly (Figure 32.4). This illustrates the
flaws of using ‘pattern recognition’ as it causes confusion among midwives and obstetricians
and leads to errors in the classification of CTG traces.
190
The most recent updated version of this guideline (December 2014) not only had used
even more confusing terminology, very unfortunately, several of its recommendations were
not based on robust scientific evidence but on the personal clinical experience of three
obstetricians on the Guideline Development Group.7 This is likely to create confusion
and worsen outcomes for women and their babies in the future. In fact, a National Survey
of Labour Ward Lead Obstetricians in the United Kingdom, which was presented at the
National Labour Ward Leads’ Meeting in March 2015 at the Royal College of Obstetricians
and Gynaecologists, confirmed that more than half of the consultant obstetricians (labour
ward leads) surveyed felt that the updated NICE guidelines on CTG interpretation would
worsen communication in the labour ward, increase operative interventions and also may
increase the incidence of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy. Therefore, clinicians should
be cautious in implementing non–evidence-based guidelines on CTG interpretation, if it is
felt that they may in fact worsen perinatal outcomes and make communication in the labour
ward difficult. Instead, a physiology-based CTG interpretation may help improve neonatal
outcomes while avoiding unnecessary operative interventions.8,9
Conclusion
Baby Lifeline has conducted a total of 42 physiology-based CTG study-days since 2005 in 27
different centres, and over 1,840 multiprofessional delegates (79 per cent midwives, 16 per
cent obstetricians, 5 per cent legal professionals) have attended these ‘CTG masterclasses’ so
far. However, despite these courses being subsidized, funding by cash-strapped NHS mater-
nity units and staffing issues pose a major challenge. However, it has been clearly shown
that the use of ‘physiology-based CTG training’, mandatory competency and a test of central
organ oxygenation (fetal ECG or STAN) reduces intrapartum emergency caesarean sections
and rates of hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy.8,9 Therefore, continued investment in physi-
ology-based CTG interpretation is essential to avoid hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury and its
sequelae as well as unnecessary intrapartum operative interventions.
References Organisation and Delivery of Care in

Labour. London: RCOG Press.
1. Maternal and Child Health Research 5. Smith, A., Dixon, A. (2008). Health
Consortium. (1997). Confidential Enquiry care professionals’ views about safety in
into Stillbirths and Deaths in Infancy: 4th maternity services. The King’s Fund.
Annual Report. London: Maternal and
Child Health Research Consortium. 6. Intrapartum care: care of healthy women
and their babies during childbirth. NICE
2. NHS Litigation Authority. (2012). Ten guideline number 55. 2007.
Years of Maternity Claims: An Analysis
of NHS Litigation Authority Data. 7. Intrapartum care: care of healthy women
London: NHS Litigation Authority. and their babies during childbirth.
NICE guideline number CG 190.
3. Royal College of Gynaecologists. (1999). December 2014.
Towards Safer Childbirth: Minimum
Standards for the Organisation of Labour 8. Chandraharan E, Lowe V, Ugwumadu
Wards. London: RCOG Press. A, Arulkumaran S. Impact of fetal ECG
(STAN) and competency based training
4. Royal College of Obstetricians on intrapartum interventions and
and Gynaecologists (2007). Safer perinatal outcomes at a teaching hospital
Childbirth: Minimum Standards for the
191
in London: 5 year analysis. BJOG. 2013; (CTG) among midwives and obstetricians?
120(s1):428–429. Book of Abstracts. Ninth RCOG
9. Chandraharan E, Lowe V, Penna L, International Scientific Meeting, Athens,
Ugwumadu A, Arulkumaran S. Does 2011. www.rcog.org.uk/events/rcog-
‘process based’ training in fetal monitoring congresses/athens-2011.
improve knowledge of cardiotocograph
192
193
Appendix
Rational Use of FIGO Guidelines in Clinical
Practice
The International Federation of Gynecology collaboration with 37 member societies and

and Obstetrics (FIGO) released its revised with a consensus panel comprising of 50
guidelines on CTG in October 2015 in CTG experts around the world.
Table A1 CTG Classification Criteria, Interpretation and Recommended Management
Normal Suspicious Pathological

Baseline 110–160 Lacking at <100 bpm
leastonecharacteristic
Variability 5–25 Reduced
ofnormality, but with
nopathological features variability for > 50 min,
increased
variability for >30 min,
or sinusoidal pattern for > 30 min
Decelerations No repetitive* Repetitive* late or prolonged
decelerations decelerations
during >30 min or 20 min if
reduced variability, or
one prolonged deceleration
>5 min
Interpretation Fetus with no Fetus Fetus
hypoxia/acidosis with a low with a
probability high probability of
of having hypoxia/acidosis
having
hypoxia/acidosis
Clinical No intervention Action to correct Immediate action to correct
management necessary to reversible causes if reversible causes, additional
improve fetal identified, close methods to evaluate fetal
oxygenation state monitoring or additional oxygenation (Chapter 4), or if this
methods to evaluate is not posible, expedite delivery; in
fetal oxygenation acute situations (cord
prolapse, uterine rupture or
placental abruption), immediate
delivery should be accomplished
The presence of accelerations denotes a fetus that does not have hypoxia/acidosis, but their absence during
labour is of uncertain significance.
*Decelerations are repetitive in nature when they are associated with >50 percent of uterine contractions.
194
194 Appendix
Clinical Decision hypoxia/acidosis may develop more

rapidly. Therefore, urgent action should
Several factors, including gestational
be undertaken to relieve the situation,
age and medication administered to the
including discontinuation of maternal
mother, can affect FHR features, so CTG
pushing, and if there is no improvement,
analysis needs to be integrated with other
delivery should be expedited
clinical information for a comprehensive
interpretation and adequate management.
As a general rule, if the fetus continues to Implementation of FIGO
maintain a stable baseline and a reassuring Guidelines in Clinical Practice
variability, the risk of hypoxia to the central It is important that midwives and
organs is very unlikely. However, the obstetricians employ the principles of fetal
general principles that should guide clinical physiology and physiological response to
management are outlined in the table. intrapartum hypoxic stress prior to taking
FIGO guidelines clearly state that action after classifying the CTG trace as
when fetal hypoxia/acidosis is anticipated normal, suspicious or pathological. Baseline
or suspected (suspicious and pathological FHR should be considered in accordance
tracings) and action is required to avoid with the gestational age of the fetus (i.e. a
adverse neonatal outcome, this does not postterm fetus would be expected to have a
necessarily mean an immediate caesarean lower baseline heart rate), as well as a rise
section or instrumental vaginal delivery. in baseline heart rate due to catecholamine
The underlying cause for the appearance surge may need action, even though the
of the pattern can frequently be identified upper limit of the threshold (i.e. 160 bpm)
and the situation reversed with subsequent is not breached. It is important to determine
recovery of adequate fetal oxygenation and the presence of cycling and types of hypoxia
return to a normal tracing. while interpreting CTG traces.
Good clinical judgement is required Even if the CTG is classified as
to diagnose the underlying cause for a pathological, in the presence of a stable
suspicious or pathological CTG to judge baseline FHR and reassuring variability,
the reversibility of the conditions with usually no operative intervention is
which it is associated and to determine required other than careful observation
the timing of delivery with the objective and/or alleviation of the cause of hypoxic or
of avoiding prolonged fetal hypoxia/ mechanical stress. Conversely, a fetus with
acidosis as well as unnecessary obstetric a ‘normal CTG’ may require an operative
intervention. Additional methods may be intervention (e.g. clinical chorioamnionitis
used to evaluate fetal oxygenation. When with failure to progress in labour). The
a suspicious or worsening CTG pattern is presence of meconium staining of amniotic
identified, the underlying cause should be fluid and ongoing clinical chorioamnionitis
addressed before a pathological tracing may result in neurological injury secondary
develops. If the situation does not revert to meconium aspiration syndrome and
and the pattern continues to deteriorate, inflammatory brain damage, even if the
consideration needs to be given for further CTG trace is not ‘pathological’. The use
evaluation or rapid delivery if a pathological of tocolytics may help improve utero-
pattern ensues. placental circulation if acute accidents such
During the second stage of labour, due as placental abruption or uterine rupture
to the additional effect of maternal pushing, are excluded.
195
Appendix 195
Further Reading consensus guidelines on intrapartum

fetal monitoring: Cardiotocography.
1. Ayres-de-Campos D, Spong CY, Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2015;131(1):13–
Chandraharan E; FIGO Intrapartum Fetal 24. www.ijgo.org/article/S0020-
Monitoring Expert Consensus Panel. FIGO 7292%2815%2900395-1/fulltext
196
197
Answers to Exercises
Chapter 3. Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control and
Types of Intrapartum Hypoxia
1. How would you classify the decelerations in Figures 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9? Why?
Answer
1. Typical variable decelerations. This is because they vary in size, shape and in relation
to uterine contractions (i.e. variable) and are characterized by a sharp drop and sharp
recovery to the baseline (<60 seconds) due to ‘baroreceptor reflex response’. Also note
the presence of shouldering.
Late decelerations. Unlike variable decelerations, a drop in FHR is more gradual, and
more importantly, the recovery to normal baseline occurs late, even after the contrac-
tion has subsided. This is because they are mediated through chemoreceptors, and fresh
oxygenated blood needs to ‘wash out’ all the accumulated carbon dioxide and meta-
bolic acids during uterine relaxation to remove the stimulus.
Atypical (or complicated) variable decelerations. Note the sharp drop and rapid recovery
(i.e. variable mediated through the baroreceptor reflex), but the duration of these decel-
erations last for >60 seconds. In addition, ‘biphasic pattern’ is also seen with total loss
of shouldering.
Figure 3.7
197
198
198 Answers to Exercises
Figure 3.8
Figure 3.9
199
Answers to Exercises 199
Chapter 5. Applying Fetal Physiology to Interpret CTG

Traces: Predicting the NEXT Change
CTG Exercise A
1. A 32-year-old primigravida was admitted with spontaneous onset of labour at 39 weeks
plus 3 days of gestation. On vaginal examination, her cervix was 6 cm dilated with
evidence of spontaneous rupture of membranes. Clear amniotic fluid was draining and
the presenting part was at the level of ischial spines. FHR was 128 bpm on intermittent
auscultation. Four hours later, she was still found to be 6 cm dilated and, therefore,
oxytocin infusion was commenced.
Time to predict the NEXT change on the CTG trace:
a. What changes would you expect to see on the CTG trace after commencement of
oxytocin infusion if the fetus is exposed to an evolving hypoxic stress?
b. If hypoxia worsens, what would you expect to see happening to the decelerations?
c. If oxytocin infusion is further increased and hypoxia worsens, what would be
expected to be seen on the CTG trace?
d. What would you expect to see on the CTG trace?
e. After the onset of cerebral decompensation (loss of baseline FHR variability), if
oxytocin infusion was further increased, what is the next (i.e. last) organ to fail and
what would you observe on the CTG trace?
Answers
1. a. Decelerations will be noted as the first sign of hypoxic stress as the fetus attempts
to protect its myocardium by reducing myocardial workload. If the hypoxic stress
continues, accelerations will disappear to conserve oxygen and nutrients by reducing
nonessential body movements (somatic nervous system activity). A further increase
in hypoxic stress secondary to oxytocin infusion may result in fetal catecholamine
surge to increase the baseline FHR to perfuse vital organs at a faster rate and also to
obtain more oxygen from the placenta (Figure 5.6).
b. Decelerations would become wider and deeper (Figure 5.7) as the fetus attempts to
protect its myocardium for prolonged periods of time to maintain a positive energy
balance. This is similar to a progressive increase in the rate and depth of respiration
in adults with prolonged and strenuous exercise to oxygenate the heart.
As long as the baseline FHR and variability are normal and the time spent on the
baseline is more than the time spent during decelerations (Figure 5.7), the central
organs are well perfused and the risk of fetal acidosis is very low.
c. The fetal reserve of a well-grown, term fetus with normal adrenal glands may release
more catecholamines to compensate and, therefore, may further increase its heart
rate (Figure 5.8), whereas a fetus with limited reserves (e.g. intrauterine growth
restriction) may rapidly decompensate, leading to a loss of baseline FHR variability.
Unfortunately, clinicians had failed to notice the increase in baseline FHR secondary
to catecholamine surge and, therefore, wrongly classified the CTG trace as ‘normal’.
They had considered ongoing decelerations as ‘typical’ variable decelerations and,
Figure 5.6 Note the appearance of variable decelerations secondary to repeated umbilical cord compression,
loss of accelerations and an increase in baseline FHR secondary to catecholamine surge, 4 hours after commencing
oxytocin infusion. Note that the baseline FHR is stable and the variability is reassuring, which indicates good
oxygenation of the central organs.
Figure 5.7 Note that within 40 minutes of continuation of hypoxic stress, decelerations have become wider and
deeper. The baseline FHR is stable and the baseline variability is reassuring, indicating adequate oxygenation of the
central organs.
201
Figure 5.8 Note a further increase in FHR to above 170 bpm, which is significantly higher than the baseline
FHR on admission (128 bpm), which indicates the degree of catecholamine surge. The fetus is still attempting
to maintain a stable baseline FHR and a reassuring variability (arrow), but rapid decompensation may ensue if
oxytocin infusion is further increased.
therefore, opined that the CTG would become ‘suspicious’ only if these decelerations
persisted for >90 minutes, according to NICE guidelines. Therefore, they further
increased the rate of oxytocin infusion.
d. Depending on the fetal reserve, either a further increase in FHR due to the release of
catecholamines or a reduction of baseline FHR variability secondary to the onset of
fetal decompensation.
The CTG trace clearly shows a final attempt by the fetus to maintain oxygenation by
increasing the baseline heart rate to 200 bpm (Figure 5.9). However, such marked
tachycardia would result in reduced ventricular filling time leading to reduced cardiac
output and resultant reduction in carotid blood supply. The onset of cerebral hypoxia
and acidosis will result in a reduction in baseline FHR variability (Figure 5.9).
The onset of reduction in baseline variability requires urgent action to improve utero-
placental circulation. These include immediate stopping of oxytocin infusion, rapid
infusion of intravenous fluids to dilute oxytocin concentration in maternal circulation
and changes in position to relieve umbilical cord compression and use of tocolytics, if
variability does not improve with initial measures. Unfortunately, due to a total lack
of understanding of fetal physiological response to an evolving hypoxic stress, clini-
cians continued to increase oxytocin infusion to achieve ‘progress’ of labour and also
commenced maternal active pushing to expedite delivery.
e. The last organ to fail is the myocardium (i.e. the heart) as persistent baseline fetal
tachycardia increases the workload of the heart and reduces its own blood supply
202
Figure 5.9 Note the final attempt by a fetus to maintain oxygenation to vital organs and the onset of reduction
in baseline variability suggesting that this attempt was unsuccessful and that the fetus had moved from
compensation to decompensation.
Figure 5.10 Note the onset of myocardial hypoxia and acidosis leading to a ‘stepladder’ pattern to death.
203
due to a reduction in cardiac relaxation time. In addition, increasing the rate of oxy-
tocin infusion during the second stage of labour and maternal active pushing can
result in a rapidly evolving hypoxia leading to fetal decompensation. The onset of
myocardial hypoxia and acidosis will be characterized by the ‘stepladder’ pattern to
death (Figure 5.10), culminating in terminal bradycardia.
CTG Exercise B
1. A primigravida was admitted with spontaneous onset of labour at 40 weeks plus 6 days
of gestation. Oxytocin was commenced for failure to progress at 5 cm dilatation, 2
hours after artificial rupture of membranes. Clear amniotic fluid was noted and CTG
trace was commenced. Apply ‘8Cs’ on the CTG trace (Figure 5.11).
Figure 5.11
2. What features would you expect to see on the CTG trace if this fetus is exposed to a
gradually evolving hypoxic stress?
3. After protecting the myocardium, how will the fetus redistribute oxygen to central
organs? What would you expect to see on the CTG trace?
4. What would happen to ongoing decelerations as hypoxia progresses?
5. What would you expect to see if there is onset of fetal decompensation?
Answers
1. Clinical picture –Primigravida on oxytocin for augmentation of labour
Cumulative uterine activity –Difficult to determine. However, there are no ongoing
decelerations suggestive of hypoxia
Cycling – Present
Central nervous system oxygenation –Stable baseline FHR and a reassuring variabil-
ity suggestive of good oxygenation of fetal myocardium and autonomic nerve centres in
the brain
Catecholamine surge – None
Chemo-or baroreceptor decelerations – None
Cascade –Continue monitoring
204
Consider the NEXT change on the CTG trace –Onset of decelerations

2. Onset of decelerations (Figure 5.12) to protect fetal myocardium so as to maintain a
positive energy balance.
Figure 5.12: Note the appearance of decelerations.
Figure 5.12
3. The fetus will release catecholamines to redistribute blood from nonessential to essen-
tial organs as well as compensatory tachycardia to supply vital organs and to get oxy-
genated blood from the placenta at a faster rate. Note a gradually increasing baseline
from 110 to 130 bpm secondary to catecholamine surge with ongoing decelerations
(Figure 5.13), which could be easily missed.
As national guidelines give a wide range (110–160 bpm), such an increase in baseline
FHR may be easily missed, if one does not understand fetal physiological response to
hypoxic stress.
Figure 5.13
205
Figure 5.14
4. The decelerations would become wider and deeper (Figure 5.14) with a further
increase in baseline FHR due to catecholamine release to help oxygenate the vital
organs.
Figure 5.14: Note the decelerations becoming wider and deeper with progressively
worsening hypoxic stress and an attempt by the fetus to compensate for this by further
increasing the baseline fetal FHR secondary to catecholamine surge.
However, the end of the CTG trace shows loss of baseline FHR variability illustrating
the onset of decompensation. Rapid action is required to improve fetal oxygenation
(i.e. stopping oxytocin and rapid infusion of intravenous fluids, changing maternal
position and use of tocolytics, if variability does not improve with initial measures).
5. Loss of baseline FHR variability due to lack of oxygen to the brain (Figure 5.14). If no
action is taken, myocardial hypoxia and acidosis will ensue leading to a stepwise
pattern to death culminating in terminal bradycardia.
Chapter 8. Intermittent (Intelligent) Auscultation

in the Low-Risk Setting
1. A 30-year-old primigravida presented with spontaneous labour at 39 weeks, having had
a low-risk pregnancy. On vaginal examination, cervix was 6 cm dilated, fully effaced
with the presenting part 2 to the ischial spines. Bulging membranes were felt. She is
requesting entonox for analgesia.
a. Is CTG monitoring indicated? Why?
b. On auscultation of the fetal heart, for 1 minute after the contraction, the heart
rate is heard at an average of 140 bpm. Using the principles of IA, what is your
diagnosis? What other information do you need?
c. What is your action plan following assessment?
d. Before the next vaginal examination was due, decelerations were heard using a
hand-held Doppler following a contraction. What would your actions be?
206
2. Having had a low-risk pregnancy, with normal scans, a 25-year-old primigravida

presented with spontaneous labour at 41 weeks and 2 days. Spontaneous rupture of
membranes was confirmed on speculum 14 hours ago. On vaginal examination, cervix
was found to be 5 cm dilated, fully effaced, and well applied to the fetal head, with the
presenting part 2 to the ischial spines. Clear liquor is noted.
a. On auscultation of FHR for 1 minute after a contraction, the fetal heart is heard at a
rate of 150 bpm. What other information do you need?
b. What are the possible causes of the findings?
c. Is CTG monitoring indicated? Why?
Answers
1. a. No. The woman is ‘low risk’, and therefore the use of CTG in this situation will not
improve the neonatal outcome, but may increase the likelihood of unnecessary
interventions.
b. Normal baseline rate, but need to listen for an acceleration to exclude chronic
hypoxia. Have the fetal movements been normal? The care provider should listen
following a contraction to ensure that there are no (late) decelerations.
c. If the aforementioned initial assessment is normal, plan for intermittent auscultation
every 15 minutes in first stage, every 5 minutes in second stage. Mobilize, analgesia
as required, reassess progress in 4 hours. If no accelerations are heard, fetal
movements are reported as reduced, or decelerations are heard during intermittent
auscultation, then a CTG is indicated.
d. Assess vaginally to exclude imminent delivery and commence CTG. If normal for 20
minutes, then discontinue and return to intermittent auscultation.
2. a. Are fetal movements normal? Has acceleration been heard? Are there any
decelerations? Have there been any previous CTGs or antenatal recording of the
fetal heart for comparison, as 150 bpm is high for this gestation although within
normal limits by national guidelines. What are the maternal observations? Is there
any offensive liquor?
b. Chorioamnionitis; maternal tachycardia (secondary to pyrexia or dehydration);
evolving hypoxia; normal rate for the individual fetus.
c. Yes, as this is a high baseline rate for this gestation (although within national
guidelines), and there is already a risk factor for sepsis (prolonged rupture of
membrane [PROM] 14 hours). If all observations are satisfactory and evidence
shows that this may be a normal rate (e.g. previous CTG with baseline at 150 bpm),
then consider discontinuing. Continuous monitoring is indicated if PROM >24
hours, maternal temperature, suspected chorioamnionitis.
Chapter 10. Role of Uterine Contractions and

Intrapartum Reoxygenation Ratio
1. A 25-year-old primigravida at 39 weeks of gestation presented with a history of spon-
taneous onset of labour. On vaginal examination, her cervix was 6 cm dilated with the
presence of grade 2 meconium staining of the amniotic fluid.
207
Four hours later, her labour was augmented with syntocinon (oxytocin) infusion as
there was no progress of labour, and ongoing uterine contractions were deemed inadequate.
Two hours after commencement of syntocinon infusion, uterine contractions were
occurring 6 in 10 minutes each lasting 60 seconds on the CTG trace (Figure 10.2).
Figure 10.2

c. What abnormalities will be noted on the CTG based on the differential diagnosis?
d. What is your management?
e. What will be noticed on the CTG trace if treatment is instituted?
Answers
1. a. Uterine hyperstimulation
b. Yes, it is important to monitor the FHR continuously if oxytocin infusion is used
and/or in the presence of meconium.
c. Frequent uterine contractions, less relaxation time in between contractions with a
stable baseline rate of 140 and a reassuring baseline variability. Repeated variable
decelerations with a stable baseline FHR and reassuring variability suggestive of
compensated fetal stress response.
d. Reduce oxytocin infusion in the first instance and observe for reduction in the
depth and duration of variable decelerations and increased relaxation time. If no
such changes are observed within 3–5 minutes (half-life of oxytocin), then oxytocin
infusion should be stopped. Intravenous fluids may be administered to dilute oxy-
tocin and to improve placental circulation. Terbutaline should be administered if no
improvement is noted with initial measures.
e. Disappearance of decelerations, more time on baseline and reappearance of accelera-
tions (Figure 10.3)
Figure 10.3: CTG trace 40 minutes after stopping oxytocin infusion. Note the disap
pearance of decelerations and appearance of accelerations.
208
Figure 10.3
Chapter 11. Intrapartum Monitoring of a Preterm Fetus

1. A 24-year-old primigravida presents at 28 weeks with reduced fetal movements. The
CTG trace is shown in the figure.
a. Classify the CTG applying the ‘8Cs’ approach.
b. What are the specific features different from those of a term fetus?
c. What changes would you expect to see if you repeat the CTG in 4 weeks’ time?
d. How would you assess fetal well-being at this stage of pregnancy?
Answers
1. a. Clinical picture: Preterm fetus, 28 weeks. Reduced fetal movements.
Cumulative uterine activity: Not registered in this case.
Cycling of FHR: This is a preterm fetus and FHR cycling may not be evident. The
autonomic nervous system is not fully developed at this stage, and therefore, an
apparent reduction variability may be seen due to unopposed activity of the sympa-
thetic nervous system without opposing effect of the parasympathetic nervous system.
Central organ oxygenation: It is difficult to assess in preterm fetuses as this is shown
by the variability which, as mentioned earlier, is expected to be reduced in preterm
fetuses due to immaturity.
Catecholamine surge: The predominant component of the autonomic nervous sys-
tem is the sympathetic component, and therefore, an increased baseline rate (150–
160 bpm) would be expected.
Chemo-or baroreceptor decelerations: There are some baroreceptor decelerations
which in preterm fetuses can be due to fetal movements.
Cascade: This patient has presented with reduced fetal movements. An ultrasound
scan to assess fetal growth and Doppler and computerized CTG are more appropri-
ate to assess fetal well-being.
209
Figure 11.1
b. Baseline heart rate is increased (150–160 bpm) due to the predominant effect of the
sympathetic nervous system without opposing effect of the parasympathetic nerv-
ous system. Due to immaturity of the somatic nervous system, accelerations may be
absent or may have a low amplitude without any clinical significance.
The variability can be reduced due to immaturity of the autonomic nervous system.
The presence of variable or early decelerations is indeterminate usually secondary to
compression of the umbilical cord during fetal movements due to the absence of the
Wharton jelly and should not trigger delivery on a preterm fetus.
c. Consider the NEXT Change on the CTG if pregnancy is allowed to continue The
baseline rate will decrease to ranges between 140 and 150 bpm, as the parasympa-
thetic system develops. For the same reason, variability will also increase as the
gestation advances. Accelerations would become more pronounced with the
maturation of the somatic nervous system.
d. In preterm fetuses, fetal well-being is more reliably assessed by Doppler and short-
term variability on computerized CTG as the usual features (baseline FHR, variabil-
ity and decelerations) analysed are unreliable in fetuses <32 weeks.
Chapter 12. Role of Chorioamnionitis and Infection

1. A primigravida was admitted for induction of labour at 41 weeks + 3 days of gestation.
She had no antenatal risk factors. CTG trace was commenced (Figure 12.3).
a. How would you classify the CTG trace?
b. What is your management plan?
A plan was made for expectant management and the maternal pulse rate was noted to
be 108 bpm.
c. What is the likely diagnosis?
d. What is your management plan?
e. What are the signs and symptoms you would be anticipating in this case?
210
Figure 12.3
A plan was made to continue with labour. Three hours later, maternal temperature was
recorded as 38.2°C. Paracetamol and intravenous antibiotics were administered. Six
hours later, cervix was found to be 4 cm dilated and artificial rupture of membranes was
carried out and meconium staining of amniotic fluid was noted.
f. What is your diagnosis?
g. What is your management plan and why?
Answers
1. a. According to guidelines, this would be a suspicious CTG as the baseline FHR is
between 160 and 180 bpm. The absence of cycling (alternative periods of activity and
quiescence) has been persisting for >40 minutes.
b. The baseline FHR would be expected to be closer to the lower limit of normal (i.e.
110 bpm) at 41 weeks + 3 days due to parasympathetic dominance. Although the
absence of accelerations during established labour is of uncertain significance,
accelerations should always be observed during the antenatal period or in early
labour. In addition, the absence of cycling reflects depression of the central
nervous system centres (sympathetic and parasympathetic that control the heart
rate). Therefore, in view of an increased baseline FHR and absence of cycling, a
strong index of clinical suspicion of subclinical chorioamnionitis should be made.
In the absence of decelerations, chronic hypoxia is unlikely and maternal
dehydration may cause fetal tachycardia but not absence of cycling or loss of
accelerations.
Therefore, a careful observation of other features of chorioamnionitis (maternal
tachycardia, maternal pyrexia, meconium staining of amniotic fluid) should be
carried out. One needs to remember that hypoxia secondary to the onset of uterine
contractions worsens neurological injury in the presence of fetal infection.
c. Onset of maternal tachycardia strongly suggests ongoing subclinical
chorioamnionitis.
211
d. If the CTG trace continues to show increased baseline FHR as compared to expected
110 bpm and loss of accelerations and cycling, delivery should be recommended.
This is because the patient is a primigravida and delivery is not imminent and
continuation of labour would not only result in prolonged exposure of the fetal brain
to inflammatory mediators, but it may also result in additional hypoxic stress
secondary to uterine contractions.
Note uterine irritability and presence of episodes of ‘saltatory pattern’ on the CTG
trace suggestive of possible chorioamnionitis. Saltatory pattern has been described
in cases of fetal infection (autonomic instability due to increased temperature).
e. Maternal tachycardia, meconium staining of amniotic fluid and offensive vaginal
discharge.
f. Clinical chorioamnionitis –beyond any reasonable doubt.
g. As delivery is not imminent and she is a primigravida, an emergency ‘category 2’
caesarean section (aim to deliver within the next 60 minutes) should be performed.
This is because continuation of labour may lead to neurological damage and
decompensation of the brain. Inflammatory damage to the myocardium may result
in myocardial dysfunction and cardiac membrane damage leading to terminal
bradycardia.
The absence of variability and of cycling are hallmarks of decompensation of the
central nervous system secondary hypoxia, acidosis and inflammatory brain damage,
and continuation of labour when delivery is not imminent may lead to myocardial
decompensation and terminal bradycardia.
Comment: This case illustrates the role of CTG in highlighting ongoing subclinical
chorioamnionitis and the importance of avoiding additional hypoxic stress
(prostaglandins, artificial rupture of membranes and use of oxytocin to augment
labour) unless fetal well-being could be absolutely determined based on the features
observed on the CTG trace. An increase in baseline FHR (albeit within the normal
range of 110–160 bpm) for the given gestation with absence of accelerations and
cycling are ominous features, and delivery should always be considered if it is not
imminent. Continuation of labour may result in additive detrimental effects of
hypoxic stress (uterine contractions and umbilical cord compression) on a fetus
already experiencing inflammatory damage and thereby may potentiate neurological
injury.
Chapter 14. Intrapartum Bleeding

1. A 36-year-old primigravida presented with a history of painless vaginal bleeding with
reduced fetal movements at 40 weeks of gestation. On examination, the abdomen was
soft and nontender and FHR was 160 bpm. On speculum examination, fresh vaginal
bleeding was noted.
c. What abnormalities on the CTG would be expected based on your differential
diagnosis?
212
d. CTG was commenced and the following features were noted (Figure 14.5). What is
your diagnosis?
e. What is your management?
Figure 14.5
Answers
1. a. Revealed abruption, unrecognized placenta praevia, local causes and vasa praevia.
b. Yes, it is important to exclude fetal hypoxia if bleeding was of fetal origin.
c. Abruption –recurrent late decelerations with loss of baseline FHR variability.
Vasa praevia –atypical sinusoidal pattern (‘poole shark teeth pattern’).
d. Atypical sinusoidal pattern (poole shark teeth pattern) and therefore fetomaternal
haemorrhage.
Apply 8Cs while interpreting CTG traces:
Clinical picture –unexplained vaginal bleeding and reduced fetal movements
Cumulative uterine activity (frequency and duration) –5 in 10 minutes
Cycling of FHR – none
Central organ oxygenation –baseline is stable but loss of variability with atypical
sinusoidal pattern, also called the ‘poole shark teeth pattern’
Catecholamine surge –yes, baseline is higher than expected at 40 weeks
Chemo-or baroreceptor decelerations – none
Cascade –High risk with evidence of CNS hypoxia likely from fetomaternal
haemorrhage –needs immediate delivery
Consider next change –myocardial decompensation and terminal bradycardia
e. Clear explanation to the woman regarding the possibility of ongoing fetal hypoxia
and hypotension secondary to fetal bleeding. Immediate delivery (category 1
C-section) and inform the neonatal team regarding the need to check haemoglobin
and for immediate fluid resuscitation and blood transfusion in view of likely fetal
hypotension.
213
This patient had an emergency caesarean section and a ruptured vasa praevia
(Figure 14.4).
Figure 14.4 Note the ruptured vasa praevia in a case with an atypical sinusoidal pattern with a ‘jagged edge’
resembling ‘Poole Shark Teeth’.
Chapter 15. Labour with a Uterine Scar: The Role of CTG

1. A 36-year-old gravida 2 para 1 with a previous caesarean section for failure to
progress in labour was admitted with spontaneous onset of labour. Cervix was 6 cm
dilated and the presenting part was at 0 station and the CTG trace was classified
as normal. Oxytocin was commenced at 23:00 hours for failure to progress
in labour as her cervix had remained 6 cm 2 hours after artificial rupture of
membranes.
a. Classify the CTG trace (using the ‘8C’ format).
b. What are effects of oxytocin on myometrial contractions and what changes would
you observe on the CTG trace?
c. Consider the CTG trace from 02:58 hours.
1. What is the type of hypoxia?
2. What are the differential diagnoses?
3. What immediate actions would you take?
d. What is the likelihood of the observed CTG change to return back to normal in
this case?
e. What would you expect to see in the umbilical cord gases if delivery was accom-
plished within 20 minutes of the onset of this acute, prolonged decelerations?
214
Figure 15.1
Figure 15.2
Answers
1. a. Apply 8Cs while interpreting CTG traces.
Clinical picture –previous caesarean section, oxytocin augmentation
Cumulative uterine activity (frequency and duration) –no contractions recorded at
present
Cycling of FHR –present; presence of periods of accelerations and good variability
alternating with periods of quiescence with reduced variability
Central organ oxygenation –good variability reflecting good oxygenation of the
central nervous system (brain)
215
Catecholamine surge –no, baseline is about 145 bpm

Chemo-or baroreceptor decelerations –no decelerations present
Cascade –risk of uterine rupture in the presence of a uterine scar and oxytocin
augmentation
Consider next change –In the presence of oxytocin augmentation, if there is a uterine
dehiscence, repetitive decelerations will be recorded; however, if there is a complete
uterine, a prolonged deceleration with loss of variability within the first 3 minutes will
appear.
b. Oxytocin produces stronger and more frequent contractions. If oxytocin continues
to be increased, uterine tachysystole/hypertonia on the ‘toco’ component may be
observed and presence of decelerations on the ‘cardiograph’.
If there is uterine dehiscence, repetitive decelerations and loss of variability will
appear; and if it is a complete rupture, a prolonged deceleration would be observed.
c. 1. Acute hypoxia
2. Differential diagnosis includes:
• Uterine scar rupture
• Cord prolapse
• Abruption
• Iatrogenic causes (oxytocin causing hypertonia, epidural causing hypotension)
3. Stop oxytocin, prepare for an immediate delivery as there is loss of baseline vari-
ability within the first 3 minutes of deceleration and the clinical diagnosis is
uterine rupture. In this case, the ‘3, 6, 9, 12, 15’ rule cannot be applied. Immediate
delivery is the appropriate management in this clinical scenario.
d. In the presence of one of the three major accidents, prolonged deceleration would
not be expected to recover as fetal hypoxia can only get worse over time. If a pro-
longed deceleration is due to iatrogenic causes and in the absence of three major
accidents, 90 percent of these decelerations will recover in 6 minutes within the
onset of deceleration and 95 percent by 9 minutes.
e. The rate of fall in pH during acute hypoxia is 0.01 per minute. The CTG prior to the
onset of prolonged deceleration was normal, and we would expect a normal pH of
around 7.25. If the delivery is accomplished within 20 minutes, the pH will drop by
0.2 unit (0.01 × 20 = 0.2), and therefore the umbilical cord arterial pH at birth would
be expected to be around 7.05.
Chapter 16. Impact of Maternal Environment

on Fetal Heart Rate
1. A 31-year-old primigravida presents to the labour ward at 37 weeks of gestation with a
history of regular contractions. She was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at the age of 11
and uses insulin pump therapy. Her HBA1c at booking was 56 mmol/mol and control
has been difficult during pregnancy. She appears dehydrated and urine dipstick shows
>3 ketones. On admission she is found to be 3 cm dilated and CTG monitoring is com-
menced. The following trace is observed:
a. How would you classify the CTG?
216
Figure 16.1
b. What do you need to consider given her history and how might it impact upon
the CTG?
c. How will you manage her?
Answers
1. a. The CTG can be described using the 8Cs technique:
Clinical picture: The mother is a poorly controlled type 1 diabetic in early labour.
She is showing signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, a form of metabolic acidosis.
Cumulative uterine activity: Contraction frequency is 2 in 10, and each contraction
is lasting approximately 60 seconds in duration.
Cycling: There is no evidence of cycling on this portion of the CTG.
Central organ oxygenation: Baseline variability is reduced (between 3 and 5), indi-
cating that central nervous system centres (sympathetic and parasympathetic) are
depressed. Causes include fetal sleep, drugs (opiates), hypoxia and acidosis.
Chemoreceptor/baroreceptor decelerations: There is no evidence of decelerations
mediated by either chemo-or baroreceptors. However, in cases of severe maternal
acidosis, loss of variability may occur before the onset of decelerations.
Catecholamine surge: The baseline heart rate is stable, without the rise that usually
appears in cases of gradually evolving hypoxia. However, in cases of severe maternal
acidosis, reduced baseline variability may be the first change seen on the CTG trace,
even in the absence of acidosis.
Compute and cascade: There is evidence of severe maternal acidosis in the form of
diabetic ketoacidosis, which may be causing the CTG changes. A full assessment of
the mother is required, and treatment of ketoacidosis should be urgently instituted
to optimize maternal condition
Consider next change: Given that central nervous system centres are already
depressed secondary to passive transfer of maternal acidosis, any further hypoxic
stress will cause myocardial decompensation and prolonged deceleration.
b. There is evidence of severe maternal acidosis; in such fetuses, baseline variability
may be lost before the onset of decelerations and a rise in baseline FHR.
c. Management involves treatment of the cause of CTG change. A full assessment of
the mother must be made by performing blood glucose and blood gas testing. Urea
217
and electrolytes should also be checked and IV (intravenous) access obtained. If

diabetic ketoacidosis is confirmed, the mother should be treated using an insulin/
dextrose infusion, with careful monitoring of potassium levels. Care should be mul-
tidisciplinary, with involvement from anaesthetic and medical teams.
Chapter 17. Use of CTG with Induction and

Augmentation of Labour
1. A 30-year-old, G2 P1, previous caesarean section is being induced for postdates (41
+ 4 weeks of gestation). She had prostaglandin pessary inserted for 24 hours, follow-
ing which she had an artificial rupture of membranes (ARMs) that showed meconium
grade 1. Two hours later, she was started on oxytocin infusion. Oxytocin has been aug-
mented every 30 minutes as per protocol. CTG trace before the ARM was normal with
a baseline FHR of 130 bpm, variability of 10–15 bpm, presence of accelerations with no
decelerations and she had two contractions in 10 minutes.
CTG after 8 hours of oxytocin augmentation shows the following features.
Figure 17.2

b. What is your management?
c. What other complications do you expect?
Answers
1. a. Apply 8Cs while interpreting CTG traces:
Clinical picture: induction of labour followed by oxytocin augmentation; previous
caesarean section; meconium grade 1; postterm fetus
Cumulative uterine activity (frequency and duration): 6 in 10 minutes
Cycling of FHR: none
Central organ oxygenation: good variability in between decelerations reflecting
good oxygenation of the central nervous system (brain)
218
Catecholamine surge –yes, baseline is higher than expected (160 bpm) at 41 + 4

weeks and was previously recorded.
Chemo-or baroreceptor decelerations –baroreceptor deceleration due to umbilical
cord compression; note the shouldering before and after deceleration, sharp fall of
the FHR followed by a quick recovery to the normal baseline.
Cascade –risk of uterine rupture, meconium aspiration and fetal hypoxia if oxytocin
augmentation continues
Consider next change –decelerations will become longer-lasting with delayed
recovery, and there may be loss of shouldering. Onset of metabolic acidosis
would result in delayed recovery to the baseline due to chemoreceptor-mediated
response.
b. Stop/reduce oxytocin infusion. Consider tocolysis if frequency of contractions per-
sists and there is no improvement on the CTG trace.
c. Uterine rupture as patient has a previous caesarean section. Meconium aspiration
syndrome and if above interventions are delayed and if fetal decompensation ensues,
fetal hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).
Chapter 19. Unusual Fetal Heart Rate Patterns:

Sinusoidal and Saltatory Patterns
1. A 35-year-old primigravida presents at 38 weeks of gestation with abdominal pain for 3
hours and reduced fetal movements with no vaginal bleeding. On examination, uterine
contractions were palpated and the cervix was fully effaced, 2 cm dilated.
b. Is a CTG indicated?
c. She was re-examined in 4 hours and established to be in labour. She was later com-
menced on oxytocin for confirmed delay in the first stage of labour. Vaginal exam-
ination after 4 hours of oxytocin demonstrated that she was 8 cm dilated. Describe
the CTG at this stage (Figure 19.3). Do you have any concerns?
d. She opted for an epidural anesthesia and is now fully dilated and has had a 2-hour
passive descent. A repeat vaginal examination suggests that she is fully dilated with
the fetal head in occipito-anterior position, at station +1. A decision has been made
Figure 19.3
219
to start active pushing. She has been actively pushing for 20 minutes and CTG is
given below (Figure 19.4). How would you describe the CTG?
e. What is your management plan based on the features observed on the CTG
(Figure 19.4)?
Figure 19.4
Answers
1. a. Early labour or a concealed placental abruption
b. Yes –to exclude fetal hypoxia due to the history of reduced fetal movements
c. No –baseline 130 bpm, variability 5–10 bpm, accelerations present, no decelerations.
Overall normal CTG trace as autonomic and somatic nervous systems are well oxy-
genated with the presence of accelerations and cycling.
d. Saltatory pattern –baseline FHR not defined, fetal heart baseline amplitude changes
of >25 bpm with an oscillatory frequency of >6 per minute, occurring for 15 minutes
e. Stop or reduce oxytocin to improve utero-placental circulation. In view of persisting
saltatory pattern, the woman should be advised to stop active pushing in the second
stage of labour to improve fetal oxygenation. CTG trace should be carefully observed
for improvement (i.e. reappearance of a stable baseline FHR and reassuring variabil-
ity). If no improvement is seen on the CTG trace, delivery should be accomplished.
If immediate delivery is not possible, terbutaline should be administered while the
woman is transferred to the operating theatre.
Apply 8Cs while interpreting CTG traces:
Clinical picture: 38 weeks presenting with abdominal pain and reduced fetal
movements
Cumulative uterine activity: 7 out of 10 minutes
Cycling of FHR: absent
Central organ oxygenation: absent stable baseline with variability >25 bpm
Catecholamine surge: Yes, there are attempts to increase FHR to 180 bpm
Chemo-or baroreceptor decelerations: Yes –repeated baroreceptor decelerations
Cascade: Rapidly evolving hypoxia may lead to fetal overshoots and saltatory pat-
terns; therefore, stop or reduce oxytocin or consider intravenous fluids or tocolysis.
Consider next change: Myocardial decompensation and terminal bradycardia
220
Chapter 20. Intrauterine Resuscitation

1. A 29-year-old primigravida presented with spontaneous early labour at 39 + 4 weeks of
gestation. She was commenced on oxytocin at 5 cm dilation for failure to progress. One
hour later, her CTG trace (Figure 20.2) shows the following features.
Figure 20.2

Two hours later, the CTG trace shows the following features (Figure 20.3):
b. What is your diagnosis?
c. What action will you take?
Answers
1. a. Uterine tachysystole –frequent/excessive uterine contractions with a normal
cardiograph
b. Uterine hyperstimulation –frequent/excessive uterine contractions with associated
changes in the cardiograph (i.e. decelerations and/or changes in baseline)
c. Stop oxytocin, consider fluid infusion to dilute oxytocin in systemic circulation, then
reassess the CTG trace. If decelerations do not improve and a stable baseline FHR
and variability are not maintained within 3–5 minutes (half-life of oxytocin), con-
sider administration of tocolytics.
Apply 8Cs to interpreting CTG traces:
Clinical picture: oxytocin administration for failure to progress
Cumulative uterine activity: 15 in 20 minutes
Cycling of FHR: none
Central organ oxygenation: initially good variability and return to baseline heart
rate indicating good fetal reserve; however, with repeated stress, the baseline heart
221
Figure 20.3
rate falls, suggestive of myocardial hypoxia and acidosis, and there is reduced vari-
ability within deceleration (hypoxia to the central nervous system)
Catecholamine surge: attempts at increasing the baseline heart rate, but due
to repeated decelerations, a progressive reduction in baseline fetal heart rate is
observed.
Chemo-or baroreceptor decelerations: baroreceptor decelerations with a sharp
fall and a rapid recovery to the baseline. However, some decelerations demonstrate
a delayed recovery suggestive of a co-existing chemoreceptor response as well. This
is because, in addition to umbilical cord compression, oxytocin-induced sustained
uterine contractions may also reduce utero-placental circulation leading to acidosis
within the placental venous sinuses.
Cascade: suspected fetal compromise due to excessive uterine contractions
Consider next change: If no action is taken, due to progressive myocardial hypoxia
and acidosis, prolonged deceleration culminating in a terminal bradycardia
would ensue.
Management: Stop oxytocin, consider fluid infusion to dilute oxytocin in systemic
circulation, and if CTG changes, do not normalize within 3–5 minutes (half-life of
oxytocin), then consider administration of tocolytics.
Chapter 21. Management of Prolonged Decelerations and

Bradycardia
1. A primigravida is induced at 41 + 5 weeks of gestation for postdates after a normal
pregnancy. The CTG up to this point has been entirely normal with a baseline rate of
130 bpm and variability of 5–15 bpm. At 11:49, a deceleration begins and the attending
midwife appropriately moves the mother into the left lateral position.
You are called to the room at 11:54.
a. What are the first steps you would take to assess the patient?
b. What is the likely cause of this prolonged deceleration?
222
Figure 21.4
Figure 21.5 CTG trace from 11:55 to 11:56.

223
Figure 21.6 CTG trace after administration of terbutaline.
c. What would your management be?

d. What features on the CTG are reassuring?
e. What features on the CTG are concerning?
Now consider the trace again (Figure 21.5).
f. What phenomenon is demonstrated at 11:55–11:56?
g. Terbutaline is administered at 11:57. At 11:58 what would your next action be?
Figure 21.6 shows the full trace indicating first recovery of the baseline and second
restoration of normal variability suggesting an intact neurological system. The toco-
graph clearly demonstrates that the uterine activity has been temporarily abolished.
h. What might you expect to see next on the CTG?
Answers
1. a. Examine the patient –BP and pulse, abdominal palpation and vaginal examination
particularly for signs of abruption, cord prolapse or uterine rupture.
b. Barring any evidence on physical examination of one of the three accidents, this
deceleration is clearly in response to the prolonged uterine activity recorded on the
tocograph and represents the fetal response to uterine hyperstimulation.
c. Stop any syntocinon or consider removing prostaglandins if still present. Keep the
patient in left lateral and correct any hypotension with intravenous fluids. Give terb-
utaline 250 mg subcutaneously as soon as possible.
d. The preceding CTG was normal and the variability in the first 3 minutes is normal.
e. The variability is lost as deceleration progresses and the FHR drops < 80.
f. The FHR here is being doubled to give a falsely high reading. This would be clear
to clinicians in the room if the ‘sound’ is turned on as a lower heart rate would be
audible.
g. At 1158, one should know that the fetus was normally oxygenated at the onset of
deceleration and that the cause of deceleration is uterine tone, and therefore man-
agement of the underlying cause should be undertaken (i.e. uterine relaxation) while
224
remaining prepared for an emergency delivery. It is expected that the baseline will
recover within the next 1–2 minutes.
h. After deceleration, one would expect to see a rebound tachycardia; however, a strong
fetus with good reserves will rapidly settle back down to the original baseline unless
another source of stress causes need for further adrenaline release. Terbutaline itself
may cause a transient fetal tachycardia.
Chapter 30. Medico-legal Issues with CTG

1. A 28-year-old gravida 2 is in spontaneous normal labour. She has no high-risk factors
and she is in the active second stage of labour. She was monitored for audible abnor-
mality of the FHR. Abdominally the fetus was estimated to be 3.8 kg and the head was
0/5th palpable. Vaginally there was clear amniotic fluid, she was fully dilated, and the
occiput was in left occipito transverse position at station 0 to +1. There is ++ caput and
++ moulding. The CTG trace is shown in Figure 30.6.
Figure 30.6
Describe your plan of action.

a. Observe for another hour
b. Perform FBS
c. Perform caesarean section
d. Perform instrumental delivery
e. Give acute tocolysis and await further descent
Answer
The decelerations are getting more and more prolonged (>2 minutes), and the FHR
remains at the baseline rate only for about 30 seconds. The baseline variability has
become salutatory suggestive of possible acute hypoxia. This would warrant immediate
instrumental vaginal delivery in the next 15 to 30 minutes.
225
Index
ABC (airway, breathing, circulation) assessment, assisted vaginal delivery (AVD)

prolonged decelerations, 119–20 CTG changes following instrument
abnormal placentation, 10 application, 151–52
acceleration capacity (AC), phase-rectified decision to delivery interval, 153
signal averaging, 52 failed delivery, 152–53
accelerations fetal compromise and, 151–54
baseline fetal heart rate, 17 indications for, 151
on CTG trace, 15–16, 47–48 intrapartum bleeding, 84–85
erroneous monitoring of maternal heart rate meconium-stained amniotic fluid and
and, 41–44 indications for, 79–81
intrauterine convulsions and, 158–59 pitfalls and mismanagement of, 153–54
in preterm fetus, 67–68 uterine scar rupture, 88–89
uterine hyperstimulation and disappearance atosiban, 120–22
of, 63–64 ATP production, glucose metabolism and, 163–64
acidosis, uterine hyperstimulation and, 63–64 atypical/complicated variable
acute hypoxia. See hypoxic stress decelerations, 18–19
management guidelines, 176 augmentation of labour
medical-legal issues with CTG defined, 96
misinterpretation and, 172 management recommendations, 98
nonreversible causes, 119–20, 175 outcome optimization, 98–99
pathophysiology in CTG trace patterns, 175 autonomic nervous system
prolonged decelerations, 118 baseline fetal heart rate, 36–38, 93
sinusoidal FHR and, 110–11 baseline variability and, 16–17
tachysystole, 120–22 CTG pathophysiological features
adrenaline, adult hypoxic stress and, 32–33 and, 45–46, 158–59
adrenergic activation, fetal hypoxic normal CTG and, 17
ischaemia, 102–03
adult physiology, hypoxic stress response, 32–33 Baby Lifeline Charity
American College of Obstetricians and founding of, 185
Gynaecologists (ACOG), CTG guidelines Master Class offered by, 186–88
published by, xii, 1, 3–4 multiprofessional training program,
amniotic fluid, in preterm fetuses, 68 challenges in, 188–90
anaerobic respiration, 162–63 pre-and post-training test results, 188
anaesthetist baroreceptors
caesarean section and, 169 baseline fetal heart rate, 101–02
fetal compromise management during labour decelerations and mechanism of, 34–36,
and, 167–70 114–15
analgesia in labour, fetal decelerations and ‘8 Cs’ CTG management approach and, 36–38
bradycardia with, 167 fetal compensatory mechanisms, 15–16
antenatal cardiotocography parasympathetic nervous system, 14
current techniques, 45 baseline bradycardia, 16
indications, 45 erroneous interpretation, 29–30
non-stress test (NST), 48–50 management guidelines, fetal
anti Ro/La (SSA/SSB) antibodies bradycardia, 125–26
baseline fetal heart rate and, 92–93 misreading of, 94–95
fetal cardiac surveillance for, 94–95 baseline fetal heart rate, 13
aorto-caval compression, fetal compromise accelerations, 17
and, 167–68 acute hypoxia, 19–20
artificial rupture of membranes (ARM), 59–60, barorecepter decelerations and, 34–36
225
226
226 Index
baseline fetal heart rate (cont.) baseline fetal heart rate variability, 101–02
catecholamine response, 15 medical-legal issues in CTG interpretation
central organ oxygenation, 36–38 and, 171
chorioamnionitis and infection CTG patterns nonhypoxic CTG and malformation
and, 72–73 of, 155–57
CTG interpretation guidelines, 46
early decelerations, 18 caesarean section
erroneous interpretation, 29–30, 133 chorioamnionitis as indication for, 74
fever and infection and, 47 decision to delivery interval, 153
intermittent (intelligent) auscultation erroneous monitoring of maternal heart rate
and, 55–56 and unnecessary performance of, 41–44
intrapartum bleeding, 82–85 failed operative delivery and, 152–53
late decelerations, 18 false positive CTG rates and increase in, 1–3
long standing (chronic) hypoxia, 21–22 fetal compromise management, 169
maternal environment and, 92–93 fetal scalp blood sampling and increase
normal rate, 16 in, 147–48
physiology, 101–02 meconium-stained amniotic fluid and
in preterm fetus, 67–68 indications for, 79–81
preterminal CTG, 23 physiology-based CTG and reduction
ST-Analyser (STAN) and variability in, 182–83
in, 135–37 prolonged decelerations, 119–20, 122–24
ST-Analyser commencement uterine rupture, 88–89
and, 135–38 uterine scar with, 87
subacute hypoxia, 20–21 cardiac conduction defects
suspected fetal compromise, 114 baseline bradycardia, 16
uterine scar rupture, 88–89 CTG pathophysiological features
variability above and below and, 158–59, 160–61
baseline, 16–17 cardiac output
baseline tachycardia, features of, 16 adult hypoxic stress response, 32–33
baseline T/QRS rise, ST-Analyser, 130–31 erroneous maternal heart rate monitoring
baseline variability and, 42–43, 133
central organ oxygenation, 36–38 fetal hypoxic stress response, 33–36
CTG fetal heart rate trace and, 13 prolonged deceleration, 118–19
fetal sleep cycle and, 45–46 cardiotocograph (CTG) interpretation
future developments in, 52 antenatal CTG, 45–52
gradually evolving hypoxia, 172–73 assisted vaginal delivery, changes following
intermittent (intelligent) auscultation instrument application, 151–52
and, 56–57 Baby Lifeline training program for, 185
interpretation guidelines, 47 clinical practice guidelines for, xii–xiv,
nonhypoxic CTG changes and reduction in, 51–52, 142
155–57 competency assessment, 180–83
in preterm fetus, 67–68 computerized CTG, 50–51
reduction in, 47 current scientific evidence on, 59–60
‘3,6,9.12,15, Rule,’ 122–24 effects of misinterpretation, 1–3, 142
beta sympathomimetics, 120–22 electronic display & storage, 29
fetal heart rate and, 93 false positive results with, 1–4, 142–43
Bhide, Amar, 45–52 fetal compromise and, 151–54
biphasic ST fetal heart rate physiology and, 13
chorioamnionitis and, 133 FIGO Guidelines on, 221–22
ST-Analyser, 130–31 future developments in, 52
blood volume control, 168 induction and augmentation of labour
baseline fetal heart rate variability, 101–02 and, 96–99
Bolam Principle, medical-legal issues in CTG interference with signals, 29–30
interpretation and, 171 intrapartum bleeding, 82–85
brain anatomy labour with uterine scar, 87–89
adult hypoxic stress response, 32–33 loss of contact/poor signal quality, 29–30
227
Index 227
machine parts of CTG, 26–27 central nervous system

maternal heart rate, erroneous monitoring of, baseline fetal heart rate variability and, 16–17,
41–44, 133 101–02
meconium-stained amniotic fluid, 79–81 CTG pathophysiological features and, 158–59
medical intervention rates and, 1, non-hypoxic CTG changes and
3–4, 55, 59 malfunctioning of, 155–57
medico-legal issues and, xii–xiv, 1–4, 171–78 central organ oxygenation
nonhypoxic causes of changes, 155–61 in ‘8 Cs’ management approach, 36–38
normal features, 16–19 prolonged deceleration management
no significant ST events, abnormal and, 118–19
CTG, 139–40 ST-Analyser and, 130, 180
outcomes from, 59 cerebral blood flow, prolonged deceleration
paper printout, 29 management and, 118–19
pathophysiological patterns, 42–43, 45–46, cerebral function monitor (CFM), hypoxic
48–50, 72, 114–15, 158–59 ischaemic encephalopathy, 164
pattern recognition as basis for, xii–xiii, 1, cerebral haemorrhage, baseline fetal heart rate
3–4, 59–60 variability and, 16–17
peripheral testing of fetal well-being cerebral palsy
with, 147–49 chorioamniomitis and infection, 71–72
physiology-based method, proposal for, CTG misinterpretation and, xii–xiv
xiii–xiv meconium-stained amniotic fluid and, 81
pitfalls in interpretation, xii–xiv, 29–30, medical-legal issues in CTG interpretation
51–52, 142 and, 171
preterm fetus, intrapartum scientific assessment of CTG and, 59–60
monitoring, 67–69 chemical pneumonitis, 81
preterminal CTG, 23 chemoreceptors
significant STAN events, abnormal baseline fetal heart rate, 101–02
CTG, 140–41 decelerations, 18, 34–36, 92–93, 94, 114–15
ST-Analyser (STAN) events, normal ‘8 Cs’ CTG management approach and, 36–38
trace, 136 intrapartum bleeding and stimulation
technical aspects of, 26–30, 142–43 of, 82–84
trace interpretation guidelines, 28, 46–48 long standing (chronic) hypoxia, 21–22
training and human error reduction, 143 parasympathetic nervous system, 14–15
types of CTG examinations, 48–51 uterine hyperstimulation and, 63–64
uterine contractions, 27–28 uterine scar rupture and, 87–88
uterine scar rupture, 87–88 chorioamnionitis
Cascade, ‘8 Cs’ CTG management approach abnormal CTG, no significant ST
and, 36–38 events, 139–40
catecholamines baseline fetal heart rate and, 16
adult hypoxic stress and, 32–33 CTG trace features, 72–73
baseline fetal heart rate and, 16, 36–38 diagnostic pitfalls, 75
fetal response to hypoxia and release fetal brain injury and, 162–63
of, 10–11 key facts concerning, 71–72
sympathomimetic activity, 15 management recommendations, 74
T/QRS physiology, 131–32 meconium and risk of, 78–79
‘catecholamine surge’ outcome optimisation, 75
‘8 Cs’ CTG management approach sinusoidal FHR with, 110–11
and, 36–38 ST-Analyser contraindication with, 133
fetal response to hypoxic stress and, 33–36 chronic hypoxia
gradually evolving hypoxia, 21–22 baseline fetal heart rate, 21–22
sub-acute hypoxia, 20–21 fetal heart rate and, 103–06
causation, medical-legal issues in CTG fetal neurologic state, 101
interpretation and, 171 intermittent (intelligent) auscultation and, 56
centralisation, catecholamines, 15 management guidelines, 176
central monitoring systems, medical-legal issues markers in fetus of, 106
with CTG misinterpretation and, 176 maternal hypoxia as, 91, 92–93
228
228 Index
chronic hypoxia (cont.) deceleration, analgesia in labour and, 167

medical-legal issues with CTG deceleration capacity (DC), phase-rectified
interpretation, 174 signal averaging, 52
pathophysiology, 175 decelerations
preterminal CTG and, 106–07 baroreceptor-mediated patterns, 14, 34–36
‘CisPorto’ Trial, 60, 143–45 baseline fetal heart rate, 17–19
clinical guidelines on CTG, xii, 1, 2, 3–4, 59–60 chemoreceptor decelerations, 18, 34–36
FIGO Guidelines, 221–22 defined, 47–48
future trials and, 60 erroneous monitoring of maternal heart rate
preterm fetal monitoring, 67 and, 41–44
clinical negligence in CTG interpretation, fetal hypoxic ischaemia, 102–03
history of, xii–xiv fetal response to hypoxia and, 10–11,
Clinical picture, in ‘8 Cs’ management 33–36
approach, 36–38 intermittent (intelligent) auscultation
Cochrane Library of Systematic Reviews, 3–4, and, 56
59, 143–45, 147–49 key messages on ‘pathological’ CTG
hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, 164–65 and, 38–39
compensatory mechanisms physiology-based CTG interpretation
fetal response to hypoxia, 10–11 of, xiii–xiv, 34–36
gradually evolving hypoxia, 21–22 in preterm fetus, 67–68
intrapartum hypoxia, 15–16 prolonged decelerations, 34–36
late decelerations and, 18 suspected fetal compromise, 114
long-standing (chronic) hypoxia, 21–22 ‘type 1/type 2’ terminology for, 1, 3
competency assessment, intrapartum fetal variability in, CTG patterns and, xii–xiii,
monitoring, 180–83 3–4, 18–19
complicated tachycardia, baseline fetal heart decidual reaction, normal placentation, 6–8
rate and, 16 decision support technology, computerised
computerised CTG (cCTG), 50–51 CTG (cCTG), 143–45
decision support in, 143–45 delivery management
overview of, 142–46 decision to delivery interval, 153
Confidential Enquiries into Stillbirths and operative interventions, fetal
Deaths in Infancy (CESDI) Reports compromise, 151–54
competency assessment in CTG prolonged decelerations and, 122–24
interpretation, 180–83 density interface, CTG measurement, 26–27
CTG misinterpretation in, xii–xiii, 1–3 diabetic mothers, outcome optimisation
medical-legal issues with CTG in, 94–95
misinterpretation and, 177–78 Doppler shift, principles of, 27
physiology-based CTG and, 185 Doppler ultrasound
congenital heart block, 92–93, 125–26 antenatal applications, 45
non-hypoxic CTG changes and, 155–57, 159–60 CTG measurement, 26–27
continuous electronic fetal monitoring (CEFM) ‘Dublin Trial’ of CTG, 59–60
evolution of, 142 ductus arteriosus, 9–10
meconium-stained amniotic fluid and, 79–81 ductus venosus, 9–10
medical intervention rates and, 55
contraction stress test (CST), 48 early decelerations, fetal heart rate, 18
cord prolapse, acute hypoxia, 19–20 ‘8 Cs’ management approach, physiology-based
Cumulative uterine activity, in ‘8 Cs’ CTG interpretation, 36–38
management approach, 36–38 ephedrine administration, saltatory FHR
‘cycling’ of fetal heart rate patterns, 109
in ‘8 Cs’ management approach, 36–38 episodic T/QRS rise, ST-Analyser, 130–31
intermittent (intelligent) auscultation and, 56 exercise, adult hypoxic stress
long standing (chronic) hypoxia and absence during, 32–33
of, 21–22 expert opinion, medical-legal issues in CTG
non-hypoxic CTG changes and, 155–57 interpretation and, 171
Dawes-Redman criteria, computerized failed operative vaginal delivery, 152–53

CTG, 50–51 false positive results
229
Index 229
CTG interpretations, 1–4, 142–43 fetal head compression

non stress test, 48–50 deceleration patterns, 17–19
ST-Analyser (STAN) events, normal CTG parasympathetic nervous system and, 18
trace, 136 fetal heart rate
Ferguson reflex, 62 baroreceptors and control of, 14
fertilisation, normal placentation and, 6–8 chemoreceptors and control of, 14–15
fetal acid-base balance, false positive CTG rates chorioamnionitis and infection, 72–73
and, 1–4 chronic hypoxia and, 103–06
fetal adrenal glands, sympathetic nervous CTG changes during operative intervention,
system, 15 instrument application, 151–52
fetal anaemia, 109, 174–75 CTG recording of, 26–27
fetal asphyxia, 162–63 cycling of, 21–22, 36–38
fetal blood pressure, fetal hypoxic doubling, with CTG, 29–30
ischaemia, 102–03 erroneous monitoring of maternal heart rate
fetal bowel abnormality, 78–79 as, 27, 29–30, 41–44, 133
fetal bradycardia fetal scalp electrode monitoring, 27–28
analgesia in labour and, 167 halving of, erroneous interpretation, 29–30
baseline heart rate, 46, 47, 155–57 intermittent (intelligent) auscultation
basic characteristics, 118 and, 55–58
erroneous interpretation, 29–30 intrapartum hypoxia and, 13–23
fetal hypoxic ischaemia, 102–03 management guidelines, fetal
management guidelines, 125–26 bradycardia, 125–26
medical-legal issues with CTG maternal environment impact on, 91–95
misinterpretation and, 172 meconium-stained amniotic fluid and, 79–81
suspected fetal compromise, 114 medical-legal issues with CTG
fetal brain injury misinterpretation and, 172
fetal heart rate and, 103–06 nonhypoxic CTG changes to, 155–61
infection and, 72, 74 non-stress test, 48–50
mechanisms, 163–64 ‘overshoots’ in, 56–57
medical-legal issues in CTG interpretation parasympathetic nervous system, 13–14
and, 171 patterns in, 109–12
fetal circulation physiological response to hypoxic stress and,
anatomy, 9–10 33–36, 101–02
blood vessel rupture, 82–85 physiology of, 13
CTG measurement, 26–27 regulation and variability, 101–02
normal placentation, 6–8 sinusoidal trace, 47–48
response to hypoxic stress and, 33–36 uterine hyperstimulation and, 62–63
fetal compromise uterine scar rupture, 87
CTG interpretation and, 114 fetal hyperthyroidism, 92–93
management during labour, 167–70 fetal hypotension, 84–85
operative interventions for, 151–54 intrapartum bleeding, 82–84
oxygen delivery reduction and, 167–68 sinusoidal FHR and, 110–11
pitfalls and mismanagement of, 170 fetal hypoxaemia, late decelerations, 18
fetal development, placental reserve, 9 fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FSIRS),
fetal electrocardiogram (ECG). See also ST- 71, 72–73
Analyser (STAN) CTG pathophysiological features and, 158–59
competency assessment in interpretation fetal intracranial pressure, uterine
of, 180–83 hyperstimulation and, 63–64
CTG misdiagnoses and, 160–61 fetal-maternal haemorrhage, 84–85
erroneous maternal heart rate monitoring fetal metabolic acidosis. See also maternal
and, 43, 133 metabolic acidosis
overview of, 142 anaerobic metabolism and lactic acid
ST-Analyser and, 130 production, 167–68
training in use of, 181–82 CTG pathophysiological features of, 45–46
fetal haemoglobin fetal scalp blood sampling and, 147–48
fetal compromise and, 167–68 infection and, 72
oxygen affinity of, 9–10, 33–36 intrapartum hypoxia and, 162–63
230
230 Index
fetal metabolic acidosis (cont.) erroneous monitoring of maternal heart rate

intrauterine resuscitation, 114 and, 41–44
late decelerations, 14–15, 18 introduction of, 3–4
physiology-based CTG and reduction management guidelines, 143
in, 182–83 meconium-stained amniotic fluid
prolonged deceleration management and, 79–81
and, 118–19 fetal scalp electrode (FSE), 27–28. See also
stepladder pattern to death, 15–16 ST-Analyser (STAN)
fetal movement, ST-Analyser (STAN) events, contraindications to use of, 135–37
normal CTG trace, 136 erroneous maternal heart rate monitoring
fetal neurologic state and, 42–43
chronic hypoxia and, 101 fetal scalp lactate analysis, 148
intrapartum hypoxia and, 162–63 fetal sleep cycle
medical-legal issues in CTG interpretation baseline variability and, 45–46
and, 171 chronic hypoxia and, 101
nonhypoxic CTG interpretations fetal hypoxic ischaemia, 102–03
and, 155–57, 159–61 fetal stress response, clinical negligence in CTG
ST-Analyser (STAN) testing of, 135–37 interpretation and, xii–xiv
fetal oxygenation, 6–12 fetal well-being
central organ oxygenation, 36–38 anaesthetists assessment of, 167–70
intrauterine resuscitation, 114 competency assessment in interpretation
placentation, 6–8 of, 180–83
prolonged decelerations, 119–20 peripheral testing of, 147–49
response to hypoxic stress and, 33–36 fetomaternal haemorrhage, sinusoidal FHR
saltatory pattern, baseline fetal heart rate patter, 109
variability, 16–17 fever
ST-Analyser (STAN) determination and, 141 baseline fetal heart rate and, 47
sub-acute hypoxia, 20–21 chorioamnionitis and, 71–72
fetal oxygen saturation (FSPO2), uterine maternal temperature, fetal heart rate and, 92,
hyperstimulation and, 62–63 110–11
fetal pH levels fight or flight response, 13–14
acute hypoxia, 19–20 fluid infusion
brain injury and, 162–63 fetal compromise management, 168
false positive CTG rates and, 1–4 intrauterine resuscitation, 115–16
medical-legal issues with CTG maternal hypotension, 120–22
misinterpretation and, 172 foramen ovale, 9–10
subacute hypoxia, 20–21 forceps delivery
fetal physiology CTG changes during instrument
hypoxic stress response and, 33–36 application, 151–52
training for assessment of, 181–82 failure of, 152–53
fetal pulse oximetry fetal compromise, 151–54
assessment of, 148–49 indications for, 151
erroneous maternal heart rate exclusion funisitis (umbilical cord inflammation), 71–72
and, 43
fetal risk gestational age
CTG risk ratios, 51–52 baseline heart rate and, 46
intermittent auscultation and, ST-Analyser (STAN) use and, 135–37
55–58 glucose metabolism, fetal brain injury
intrapartum hypoxia, 162–63 and, 163–64
medical-legal issues in CTG interpretation glycogenolysis, T/QRS physiology, 131–32
and, 177–78 gradually evolving hypoxia, 21–22
vertical transmission, fetal scalp electrode chronic hypoxia mimicking of, 103–06
monitoring, 27–28 induction of labour and, 97, 98–99
fetal scalp blood sampling (FBS) management guidelines, 176
assessment of, 147–48 medical-legal issues with CTG
controlled trials of, 59–60 misinterpretation, 172–73
CTG misdiagnoses and, 160–61 pathophysiology, 175
231
Index 231
haemoglobin, oxygen affinity of fetal outcome optimization, 98–99

haemoglobin, 9–10, 96 pitfalls and consequences of, 99
high flow oxygen administration, intrauterine ‘INFANT’ Trial on CTG, 60, 143–45
resuscitation, 115–16 infection
hormonal regulation baseline fetal heart rate variability
baseline fetal heart rate, 101–02 and, 16–17, 47
normal placentation and, 6–8 CTG pathophysiological features
hydrops fetalis, 155–57 and, 158–59
hypercarbia, late decelerations, 18 CTG trace and pathophysiology of, 72
hyperkalemia, T/QRS physiology, 131–32 diagnostic pitfalls, 75
hyperlactaemia, intrapartum hypoxia fetal tachycardia, 47
and, 162–63 meconium physiology and, 78–79
hyperplacentosis, diabetic nonhypoxic CTG changes and, 155–57
pregnancy, 9–10 outcome optimisation, 75
hyperthyroidism, fetal tachycardia and, 47 intermittent (intelligent) auscultation (IA)
hypertonia, CTG interpretation guidelines, 97, basic principles, 55
114–15 defined, 55n.
hypotonia, hypoxic ischaemic meconium-stained amniotic fluid and, 79–81
encephalopathy, 164 physiology, 56
hypovolemia, oxygen administration, pitfalls, 56–57
115–16 recommended method, 55–56
hypoxemia, CTG pathophysiological features scientific assessment of, 59–60
of, 45–46 internal pressure transducers, 28
hypoxia. See also chronic hypoxia; intrapartum International Federation of Gynaecology
hypoxia and Obstetrics (FIGO), CTG guidelines
chorioamnionitis and, 71–73 published by, xii, 1, 3–4, 221–22
intrapartum bleeding, 82–84 intracranial haemorrhage, nonhypoxic CTG
meconium physiology and, 78 intrapartum bleeding, 82–85
medical-legal issues in CTG interpretation outcome optimisation, 84–85
and, 171 pitfalls and consequences, 84–85
uterine hyperstimulation and, 63–64 intrapartum hypoxia
uterine rupture, 88–89 antenatal cardiotocography indications, 45
hypoxic intrauterine environment, fetal baseline fetal heart rate and
adaptation to, 9–10 determination of, 16
hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) chorioamnionitis and, 74
clinical features, 164 classification, 19–22
CTG misinterpretation and, xii–xiv disappearance of accelerations with, 15–16
fetal response, 102–03 erroneous monitoring of maternal heart rate
incidence, 162–63 and, 41–44
intrapartum bleeding and, 84–85 fetal adaptation to, 9–11, 33–36
management and outcomes, 164–65 fetal heart rate control, 13–23
physiology-based CTG and reduction fetal risk in, 162–63
in, 182–83 neonatal implications, 162–65
hypoxic stress. See also intrapartum hypoxia Next Change on CTG trace and, 36–38
adult physiological response to, 32–33 physiology-based CTG interpretation and,
baseline fetal heart rate, 19–20 xiii–xiv
fetal physiological response to, 33–36 in preterm infants, 67
in preterm infants, 67 ST-Analyser (STAN) testing and, 135–37
prolonged decelerations, 34–36 ‘Intrapartum Related Deaths: 500 Misssed
Opportunities’ Report (Chief Medical
implantation of trophoblast, normal Officer’s Report), xii–xiii, 2
placentation and, 6–8 intrapartum re-oxygenation ratio (IRR)
induction of labour (IOL) defined, 62–63
defined, 96 interpretation pitfalls, 64–65
indications for, 96 uterine contractions and, 62–65
management recommendations, 98 uterine hyperstimulation and, 63–64
232
232 Index
intrauterine convulsions, CTG fetal heart rate and, 47, 92

pathophysiological features and, 158–59 outcome optimisation and management
intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) of, 94–95
abnormal placentation, 10 reduced CTG variability and, 93
monitoring of, 94–95 sinusoidal fetal heart rate and, 109
reduced CTG variability and, 93 maternal health status
intrauterine resuscitation, 114–16 body mass index, failure of operative delivery
CTG interpretation, 114–15 and, 152–53
fetal compromise and, 167–68 CTG trace interpretation and, 92–93, 94–95
management and outcome guidelines, fetal adaptation to, 9–10
115–16, 168 fetal heart rate and, 91–95
outcome optimisation, 169 induction of labour and, 96
pitfalls and mismanagement of, 116 pitfalls and mismanagement of, 94–95
prolonged decelerations, 119–20
K2 Medical Systems Data Collection maternal heart rate, erroneous monitoring as
System, 143–45 fetal heart rate, 27, 29–30, 41–44
Kelilhauer-Betke test, 176 maternal hypotension
acute hypoxia, 19–20
labour management. See also delivery avoidance of, 169
management intrapartum bleeding, 82–85
abnormal CTG, significant STAN events, 132, prolonged decelerations, 34–36, 92–93, 120–22
140–41 maternal infection
anaesthetist role in, 167–70 chorioamnionitis CTG patterns and, 72–73
induction and augmentation of labour, 96–99 meconium-stained amniotic fluid
peripheral testing of fetal well-being maternal metabolic acidosis, 91
and, 147–49 reduced CTG variability and, 93
with uterine scar, 87–89 maternal obstetric cholestasis, 78
late decelerations maternal pulse, erroneous monitoring of, 27
baseline fetal heart rate, 18 maternal repositioning
chemoreceptors, 14–15 acute hypoxia, 19–20
contraction stress test, 48–51 central organ oxygenation, 36–38
long standing (chronic) hypoxia, 21–22 CTG interpretation and, 93
placental separation, 82–85 fetal compromise management, 168, 170
uterine scar rupture, 87–88 intrauterine resuscitation, 64, 114, 115–16
utero-placental insufficiency, 114–15 late decelerations, 18
liability, medical-legal issues in CTG maternal hypotension, 120–22
interpretation and, 171 meconium presence and, 79–81
listeriosis, 78–79 mechanical components of CTG, 26–27
long standing hypoxia. See chronic hypoxia meconium
‘low amplitude’ accelerations, intrauterine chorioamnionitis and infection, 71, 75
convulsions and, 158–59 defined, 78
low-risk settings, intermittent auscultation physiology of, 78
in, 55–58 meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), 79–81
consequences, 81
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), medical- risk of, 81
legal issues in CTG interpretation and, 171 meconium-stained amniotic fluid (MSAF)
malpractice claims, medical intervention abnormal CTG, no significant ST
and, 177–78 events, 139–40
maternal anaemia, 110–11 chorioamnionitis, 72–73, 75
maternal anti-TSH receptor antibodies, fetal chronic hypoxia and, 106
heart rate and, 93 CTG interpretation and, 36–38
maternal autoantibodies, 92 defined, 78
maternal drug intake diagnostic pitfalls, 81
CTG pattern abnormality and, 45–46 fetal bowel abnormality, 78–79
fetal bradycardia and, 125–26, 155–57 induction of labour and, 99
233
Index 233
infection and, 78–79 ‘neighbourhood watch,’ 176

management recommendations, 79–81 neonatal brain injury, intrapartum hypoxia
maternal obstetric cholestasis, 78 and, 162–63
medical intervention neonatal thyrotoxicosis, 93
CTG use and, 1, 3–4, 55, 59 neutrophil phagocytosis, meconium inhibition
as defense against malpractice, 177–78 and, 78–79
fetal compromise, 151–54 Next Change on CTG trace, intrapartum
fetal scalp blood sampling and increase hypoxia and, 36–38
in, 147–48 NHS Litigation Authority, xii–xiv
inducation and augmentation of nitroglycerine, 120–22
labour, 96–99 nonhypoxic CTG changes
intrauterine resuscitation, 114–16 interpretation guidelines, 155–61
maternal environmental assessment and, 94–95 management guidelines, 159–60
meconium-stained amniotic fluid pitfalls and mismanagement of, 160–61
management and, 79–81 non stress test (NST), 48–50
physiology-based CTG and reduction noradrenaline, adult hypoxic stress
in, 182–83 and, 32–33
prolonged decelerations and, 122–24 normal antenatal CTG, 48–50
medical-legal issues with CTG normal placentation, fetal oxygenation
misinterpretation, xii–xiv, 1–4, 171–78 and, 6–8
acute hypoxia assessment, 172 Norway, CTG misinterpretation in, 2
anaemia and sinusoidal CTG trace, 174–75 nucleated red blood cells (NRBC), chronic
chronic hypoxia, 174 hypoxia and, 106
gradually evolving hypoxia, 172–73
key pathophysiology in CTG trace Omniview Sis-Porto system, 143–45
patterns, 175 operative vaginal delivery. See assisted vaginal
long-standing (chronic) hypoxia, 174 delivery (AVD)
optimised strategies for avoidance of, 176 outcome assessment
pitfalls and consequences of, 177–78 anaesthetist role in fetal compromise
subacute hypoxia, 172–73 management, 169
metabolic acidosis. See fetal metabolic acidosis; Baby Lifeline Master Class, 186–88
maternal metabolic acidosis chorioamnionitis and infection, 75
myocardial decompensation erroneous maternal heart rate and, 43
adult hypoxic stress response, 32–33 hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy, 164–65
fetal hypoxic stress response and, 33–36, induction of labour, 98–99
118–19 intrapartum bleeding, 84–85
long standing (chronic) hypoxia, 21–22 maternal environment and CTG
myocardial energy balance, physiology-based interpretation, 94–95
CTG interpretation and, xiii–xiv physiology-based CTG and, 182–83
myocardial hypoxia, 15–16 pitfalls of CTG and, 51–52, 59
preterm fetal monitoring, 67, 69
National Health Services Litigations Authority ST-Analyser, 132
(NHSLA), 177–78 oxygen transfer
National Institute for Health and Clinical fetal compromise and reduction in, 167–68
Excellence (NICE) fetal haemoglobin affinity for, 9–10, 33–36
antenatal fetal testing guidelines, 45 maternal oxygen saturation, 91, 168
CTG outcome analysis, 59 oxytocin infusion
fetal scalp blood sampling guidelines, 147–48 CTG misinterpretation and injudicious
operative vaginal delivery guidelines, 151 use of, 2
pattern recognition as basis for CTG induction of labour with, 96, 98–99
guidelines, 188–90 intrauterine resuscitation and cessation
on preterm fetal intrapartum monitoring, 67 of, 115–16
National Survey of Labour War Lead resumption following prolonged deceleration
Obstetricians, 188–90 resolution, 124
negligence, medical-legal issues in CTG tachysystole and cessation of, 120–22
interpretation and, 171 uterine hyperstimulation and, 63–64
234
234 Index
palliative care, hypoxic ischaemic sinusoidal FHR, 109–10

encephalopathy, 164–65 ‘power of the rest’ standard, scientific assessment
parasympathetic nervous system, 13–14 of CTG and, 59–60
baseline fetal heart rate variability, 101–02 pre-existing hypoxia. See chronic hypoxia
CTG pathophysiological features and, 158–59 pre-labor rupture of membranes (PROM),
head compression and, 15–16, 18 chorioamnionitis, 71
in preterm fetus, 16 preterm fetus
saltatory FHR and, 110–11 CTG management guidelines, 68–69
uterine hyperstimulation and, 63–64 CTG trace pathophysiology, 68
partogram monitoring, chorioamnionitis, 74 intrapartum monitoring, 67–69
‘pathological’ CTG, key messages on, 38–39 pitfalls in CTG monitoring of, 69
pattern recognition pre-terminal CTG, 23
competency testing in assessment of, 181–82 chronic hypoxia and, 106–07
false positive CTG rates and, 1–3 key messages in, 38–39
flawed CTG interpretation based on, xii–xiii, ‘ST events’ and, 132
1, 3–4, 59–60, 182–83 prolonged decelerations, 34–36
peripheral testing of fetal well-being, 147–49 basic characteristics, 118
peripheral vasoconstriction, catecholamines, 15 causes, 119–20
persistent pulmonary hypertension, intrauterine delivery management and, 122–24
resuscitation and, 115–16 gradually evolving hypoxia, 172–73
phase-rectified signal averaging (PRSA), 52 induction of labour and, 98
physiology-based CTG interpretation intrapartum bleeding, 82–84
applications in fetal physiology, 32–39 management guidelines, 118–19, 124–25
assessment of, 185–90 maternal environment and, 92–93, 94,
Baby Lifeline Master Class, 186–88 114–15
cost issues in training for, 188–90 medical-legal issues with CTG
‘8 Cs’ management approach, 36–38 misinterpretation and, 172
fetal response to hypoxic stress and, 33–36 oxytocin resumption following resolution
key messages on, 38–39 of, 124
multiprofessional training, challenges in, post-resolution management, 124
188–90 predicted recovery, CTG interpretations, 122
proposal for, xiii–xiv, 3–4, 143 uterine hyperstimulation and, 63–64,
training for, 181–82 114–15
piezoelectric effect, CTG measurement, 26–27 uterine scar rupture, 87–88
Pinard’s stethoscope, 3 propranolol, persistent pulmonary hypertension
placental abruption, 84–85 and, 115–16
acute hypoxia, 19–20 prostaglandin E2, induction of labour
fetal tachycardia and, 47 with, 96
prolonged decelerations, 118, 119–20 pseudo-sinusoidal pattern, 109–10
uterine scar rupture and, 87–88 non-hypoxic CTG and, 155–57
placental histopathology, chorioamnionitis, 74 pulmonary hypertension, meconium aspiration
placental oxygenation, 62 and, 81
fetal brain injury and, 162–63 pulse oximetry probe, erroneous maternal heart
fetal compromise and, 167–68 rate exclusion and, 43
placental perfusion, hypoxia and p-wave interpretation, erroneous maternal heart
reduction of, 92 rate and, 43
placental reserve, fetal growth and
well-being, 9 randomised controlled trials
placenta praevia, 82–85 absence of, for CTG interpretation efficacy,
placentation xii–xiii, 1, 59–60
abnormal placentation, 10 fetal scalp lactate analysis, 148
diabetic pregnancy, 9–10 future trials, 60
fetal oxygenation, 6–8 rapid sequence spinal anaesthesia, 169
normal placentation, 6–8 respiratory rate
‘Poole Shark Teeth Pattern’ absence of, in fetus, 33–36
intrapartum bleeding, 82–85 adult hypoxic stress response, 32–33
235
Index 235
rhesus iso immunisation contraindications to, 135–37

fetal anaemia, 109 erroneous maternal heart rate and, 43
sinusoidal fetal heart rate, 111 management guidelines, 132
risk ratios for CTG, 51–52 meconium-stained amniotic fluid and, 79–81
ritodrine, 120–22 nonsignificant ‘episodic’ events, 138–39
Royal College of Obstetricians and normal CTG trace and, 136
Gynaecologists (RCOG), CTG guidelines pathophysiologic patterns, 131–32
published by, xii pitfalls in use of, 133, 141
R-R interval, fetal scalp electrode principles and physiology, 130–33
monitoring, 27–28 training in use of, 181–82
stepladder pattern to death, 15–16
saltatory fetal heart rate gradually evolving hypoxia, 21–22
baseline fetal heart rate variability, 16–17 induction of labour and, 97
causes, 109 ST event, ST-Analyser and, 130–31, 132
CTG interpretation, 109–10 St George’s Intrapartum Monitoring Strategy
defined, 109 (GIMS), 180–83
management and outcome St. George’s Univer Hospitals NHS Foundation
optimisation, 111 Trust, 62–63
pathophysiology, 110–11 ‘Stillbirth Claims Report’ (NHSLA, 2009), xii–xiii, 2
pitfalls and consequences of, 111–12 stillbirths
in systemic fetal inflammation, 72–73 CTG misinterpretation and, xii–xiv
signal ambiguity, erroneous maternal heart rate ‘Grade 3’ Substandard Care linked to, 1–3
monitoring and, 43 subacute hypoxia
sinoatrial (SA) node baseline fetal heart rate, 20–21
baseline fetal heart rate, 36–38 fetal scalp blood sampling and, 147–48
baseline fetal heart rate variability, 101–02 management guidelines, 176
sinusoidal fetal heart rate pathophysiology, 175
causes, 109 ST-Analyser misuse during, 133
CTG interpretation, 47–48, 109–10 tachysystole, 120–22
defined, 109 subacute hypoxia, medical-legal issues with
intrapartum bleeding, 82–84 CTG misinterpretation, 172–73
management and outcome optimisation, 111 subclinical chorioamnionitis, 71–72
management guidelines, 176 supraventricular tachycardia (SVT),
medical-legal issues with CTG 155–57, 159–60
misinterpretation and, 174–75 sympathetic nervous system
pathophysiology, 110–11, 175 baseline fetal heart rate variability, 101–02
pitfalls and consequences of, 111–12 CTG pathophysiological features and, 158–59
somatic nervous system, 15–16 fetal adrenal glands and, 15
cycling of fetal heart rate, 36–38 saltatory FHR and, 110–11
intermittent (intelligent) auscultation and, 56 syncytiotrophoblast, normal placentation, 6–8
sound wave frequency Syntocinin infusion, 168
CTG measurement, 26–27
erroneous maternal heart rate monitoring tachycardia
and, 42–43 adult hypoxic stress and, 32–33
SPOILT intrauterine resuscitation protocol, 168 baseline heart rate, 46
ST-Analyser (STAN). See also fetal scalp causes, 47
electrode (FSE) chorioamnionitis, 71, 72–73
abnormal CTG, no significant ST CTG pathophysiological features and, 158–59
events, 139–40 erroneous interpretation, 29–30
abnormal CTG, significant STAN non-hypoxic CTG changes and, 155–57
events, 140–41 tachysystole
baseline fetal heart rate and, 135–38 CTG interpretation guidelines, 97
case studies of, 135–41 induction of labour and, 96
central organ oxygenation and, 130 management of, 98
competency assessment in interpretation maternal hypotension, 120–22
of, 180–83 uterine scar rupture, 87–89
236
236 Index
‘10 years of Maternity Claims Report’ ‘upside down’ CTG trace, false ‘reduced baseline
(NHS Litigation Authority), xii–xiv, 2 variability,’ 29–30
terbutaline, 120–22 uterine contractions
terminal bradycardia, 16 chemoreceptor decelerations, 34–36
fetal physiology and, 33–36 contraction stress test, 48–51
placental separation, 82–85 CTG measurement of, 27–28
pre-terminal CTG, 23 cumulative uterine activity, 36–38
uterine scar rupture, 87–88 fetal oxygenation and, 9–10
therapeutic hypothermia, hypoxic ischaemic intermittent (intelligent) auscultation
encephalopathy, 164–65 following, 55–56
‘3,6, 9.12,15, Rule’ internal pressure transducer monitoring, 28
acute hypoxia management, 176 intrapartum re-oxygenation ratio, 62–65
delivery timing, 122–24 maternal heart rate monitoring and, 41–44
prolonged decelerations, 84–85, 89, 98 uterine hyperstimulation, 62
“3-6-9-12” minute rule, acute acute hypoxia, 19–20
hypoxia, 19–20 CTG interpretation guidelines, 97, 114–15
thumb sucking, sinusoidal fetal heart induction of labour and risk of, 96
rate and, 109, 111 key features, 63–64
tocolysis management guidelines, 122
administration guidelines, 94–95 pathophysiology of, 63–64
fetal compromise management, 168 prolonged decelerations, 118
induction of labour and, 98 recommended management, 64
intrauterine resuscitation and, 115–16 saltatory FHR patterns, 109, 111
prolonged decelerations, 118 suspected fetal compromise, 114
tachysystole, 120–22 tachysystole, 120–22
uterine hyperstimulation, 18, 19–20, 64–65, tocolytics, 18
125–26 uterine rupture
uterine scar rupture, 88–89 management and outcome optimization, 88–89
T/QRS ratio prolonged decelerations, 118, 119–20
physiology behind, 131–32 uterine scar
ST-Analyser and, 130, 141 acute hypoxia with rupture of, 19–20
training and credentialing for CTG diagnosis and management, 87–89
interpretation, proposals for, 143 pitfalls and consequences of rupture, 89
transabdominal ultrasound, uterine scar utero-placental circulation
monitoring, 88–89 diabetic pregnancy, 9–10
transcutaneous electrial nerve stimulation intrauterine resuscitation, 114
(TENS), interference with CTG signal, 29–30 normal placentation and, 6–8
transducer equipment uterine hyperstimulation and, 62
CTG measurement, 26–27 utero-placental insufficiency
erroneous maternal heart rate monitoring baseline fetal heart rate, 16
and, 42–43 chemoreceptor decelerations, 34–36,
trophoblast formation, normal 114–15
placentation, 6–8 chorioamnionitis and, 74
typical/uncomplicated variable contraction stress test, 48–51
decelerations, 18–19 deceleration patterns, 17–19
effects of, 63–64
ultrasound gel, CTG measurement, 26–27 uterotonic use, intrapartum re-oxygenation ratio
umbilical cord compression and, 62
baroreceptor-mediated decelerations, 14 utrine rupture, intrapartum bleeding, 82–85
chemoreceptor decelerations, 34–36
chorioamnionitis and, 74 vacuum-assisted delivery
deceleration patterns, 17–19 CTG changes during instrument
induction of labour and, 97 application, 151–52
intrapartum bleeding, 82–84 failure of, 152–53
prolonged decelerations, 118, 119–20 fetal compromise and, 151–54
variable decelerations and, 18–19 indications for, 151
237
Index 237
vagal innervation to myocardium, baseline fetal CTG patterns and, xii–xiii, 3–4, 18–19
heart rate variability, 101–02 fetal compromise and, 169
vagotomy, baseline fetal heart rate fetal hypertension, 114–15
variability, 101–02 intrapartum bleeding, 82–84
variability in CTG patterns. See baseline uterine hyperstimulation and, 63–64
variability uterine scar rupture, 87–88
fetal heart rate, 101–02 vasa praevia, 82–85
maternal environment and reduction vertical transmission risk, fetal scalp electrode
in, 92–93 monitoring and, 27–28
predicted prolonged deceleration recovery, vibro-acoustic stimulation (VAS), 45
CTG interpretations, 122 *Vincent and Ennis, 2
uterine scar rupture and reduction
in, 87–88 Wharton’s jelly in umbilical cord, in preterm
variable decelerations fetuses, 68
abnormal CTG, significant STAN
events, 140–41 zona pellucida, normal placentation and, 6–8
238

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i

University Printing House, Cambridge CB2 8BS, United Kingdom

Cambridge University Press is part of the University of Cambridge.

Dedicated to all babies who have sustained

1 ‘An Eye Opener’: Perils of CTG 9 Current Scientific Evidence

17 Use of CTG with Induction and 26 Operative Interventions for Fetal

Anthony Addei, MB ChB, FRCA Francesco D’Antonio, MD

Why do we need a textbook on physiology-​based cardiotocograph (CTG) interpretation? In

‘An Eye Opener’: Perils of CTG

Effects of CTG Misinterpretation

Handbook of CTG Interpretation: From Patterns to Physiology, ed. Edwin Chandraharan. Published by

2 Chapter 1: Perils of CTG Misinterpretation

Chapter 1: Perils of CTG Misinterpretation 3

CTG Interpretation: What Is the Problem?

4 Chapter 1: Perils of CTG Misinterpretation

Further Reading 6. Chandraharan E, Lowe V, Penna L,

Chapter 1: Perils of CTG Misinterpretation 5

10. CESDI. Fourth Annual delivery-​related malpractice in Sweden

2 Anna Gracia-​Perez-​Bonfils and Edwin Chandraharan

Placentation: Impact on Fetal Oxygenation

Handbook of CTG Interpretation: From Patterns to Physiology, ed. Edwin Chandraharan. Published by

Chapter 2: Fetal Oxygenation 7

Trophoblastic lacunae Maternal sinusoids

8 Chapter 2: Fetal Oxygenation

Fetal portion Maternal

Chapter 2: Fetal Oxygenation 9

Umbilical vein Normal

Fetal portion Maternal portion

Impact of Placental Reserve on Fetal Growth and Well-​being

Fetal Adaptation to Hypoxic Intrauterine Environment

10 Chapter 2: Fetal Oxygenation

Figure 2.4 Fetal adaptation to hypoxia.

Fetal Response to Hypoxic Stress

Chapter 2: Fetal Oxygenation 11

Table 2.1 Causes of abnormal placentation

HR to get oxygenated Peripheral Glycogenolysis to

Figure 2.5 Fetal response to hypoxic stress.

12 Chapter 2: Fetal Oxygenation

Further Reading 4th edition. Philadelphia: Churchill

Physiology of Fetal Heart

3 Rate Control and Types of

Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control

Handbook of CTG Interpretation: From Patterns to Physiology, ed. Edwin Chandraharan. Published by

14 Chapter 3: Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control

Chapter 3: Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control 15

• On the other hand, decelerations secondary to chemoreceptor stimulation due to

Role of Sympathetic System and the Fetal Adrenal Glands

The Somatic Nervous System

16 Chapter 3: Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control

Chapter 3: Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control 17

18 Chapter 3: Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control

or utero-​placental insufficiency) may arise simultaneously, and therefore, decelerations may

Chapter 3: Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control 19

Table 3.1 Features of complicated (‘atypical’) variable decelerations

• Duration more than 60 seconds

Types of Intrapartum Hypoxia

20 Chapter 3: Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control

4. Assess the CTG trace seeking for reassuring features:

Chapter 3: Physiology of Fetal Heart Rate Control 21

Why do we need a textbook on physiology-based cardiotocograph (CTG) interpretation? In

10. CESDI. Fourth Annual delivery-related malpractice in Sweden

2 Anna Gracia-Perez-Bonfils and Edwin Chandraharan

Impact of Placental Reserve on Fetal Growth and Well-being

or utero-placental insufficiency) may arise simultaneously, and therefore, decelerations may

Long-Standing (Chronic) Hypoxia

CardioTOCOgraph –Measurement of Uterine Activity

CardiotocoGRAPH–Display of the CTG Trace

Key Messages on Physiology-Based CTG Interpretation