Continuous electronic fetal monitoring was developed in the 1960s to assist in the diagnosis of fetal hypoxia during labor. Beta-adrenergic agonists used to inhibit labor, such as ritodrine (Yutopar) and terbutaline (Bricanyl), may cause a decrease in variability only if given at dosage levels sufficient to raise the fetal heart rate above 160 bpm.19 Uncomplicated loss of variability usually signifies no risk or a minimally increased risk of acidosis19,20 or low Apgar scores.21 Decreased FHR variability in combination with late or variable deceleration patterns indicates an increased risk of fetal preacidosis (pH 7.20 to 7.25) or acidosis (pH less than 7.20)19,20,22 and signifies that the infant will be depressed at birth.21 The combination of late or severe variable decelerations with loss of variability is particularly ominous.19 The occurrence of a late or worsening variable deceleration pattern in the presence of normal variability generally means that the fetal stress is either of a mild degree or of recent origin19; however, this pattern is considered nonreassuring. et al. https://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq015.pdf, Current version ( Are there decelerations present? Minimal. comprehensive exam fetal tracing index references the maternal fetal triage index frequently asked questions web each of the ve levels has key questions with . The FHR baseline is 120-130 bpm. All Rights Reserved. Develop a plan, in the context of the clinical scenario, according to interpretation of the FHR. Minimal variability during the hour preceding fetal bradycardic events has been shown to be most predictive of fetal acidosis and need for emergent delivery.23 During periods of minimal variability, accelerations produced by scalp stimulation offer reassurance.15,23,26,41 Management of minimal variability includes intrauterine resuscitation and identifying and treating reversible causes (Table 7).2,7,16, Marked variability is defined as more than 25 bpm fluctuations in FHR around the determined baseline for more than 10 minutes and may represent hypoxic stress5,33 (eFigure E). 140 145 Correct . Although continuous EFM remains the preferred method for fetal monitoring, the following methodologies are active areas of research in enhancing continuous EFM or developing newer methodologies for fetal well-being during labor. The workshop introduced a new classification scheme for decision making with regard to tracings. Issues such as hypoxia, however, might slow their heart rate. What should the nurse do before appropriate clinical interventions are initiated? Powered by. efm.com/fhm/files/quiz2.php?QiD=DCABCC 1/2Correct. The practitioner ruptures a laboring patient's membranes and inserts a fetal spiral electrode because the nurse is unable to obtain FHR data by the external method. Structured intermittent auscultation is an underused form of fetal monitoring; when employed during low-risk labor, it can lower rates of operative and cesarean deliveries with neonatal outcomes similar to those of continuous electronic fetal monitoring. Your doctor uses special types of equipment to conduct electronic fetal monitoring. The nurse still interprets the FHR tracing as a Category III. 5 contractions in 10 minutes averaged over thirty minutes To learn what we do to deliver the best health and lifestyle insights to you, check out our content review principles. They are the most commonly encountered patterns during labor and occur frequently in patients who have experienced premature rupture of membranes17 and decreased amniotic fluid volume.24 Variable decelerations are caused by compression of the umbilical cord. HESI - OB, Fetal Heart Rate: Interpretation 5.0 (1 review) A patient is in active labor with spontaneous contractions occurring every 2 minutes and lasting 90 to 100 seconds. The patient is now 7 cm dilated, 100% effaced, and at +1 station. Intraobserver variability may play a major role in its interpretation. Count FHR after uterine contraction for 60 seconds (at 5-second intervals) to identify fetal response to active labor (this may be subject to local protocols), Abnormal umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry, Maternal motor vehicle collision or trauma, Abnormal fetal heart rate on auscultation or admission, Intrauterine infection or chorioamnionitis, Post-term pregnancy (> 42 weeks' gestation), Prolonged membrane rupture > 24 hours at term, Regional analgesia, particularly after initial bolus and after top-ups (continuous electronic fetal monitoring is not required with mobile or continuous-infusion epidurals), High, medium, or low risk (i.e., risk in terms of the clinical situation), Rate, rhythm, frequency, duration, intensity, and resting tone, Bradycardia (< 110 bpm), normal (110 to 160 bpm), or tachycardia (> 160 bpm); rising baseline, Reflects central nervous system activity: absent, minimal, moderate, or marked, Rises from the baseline of 15 bpm, lasting 15 seconds, Absent, early, variable, late, or prolonged, Assessment includes implementing an appropriate management plan, Visually apparent, abrupt (onset to peak < 30 seconds) increase in FHR from the most recently calculated baseline, Peak 15 bpm above baseline, duration 15 seconds, but < 2 minutes from onset to return to baseline; before 32 weeks gestation: peak 10 bpm above baseline, duration 10 seconds, Approximate mean FHR rounded to increments of 5 bpm during a 10-minute segment, excluding periodic or episodic changes, periods of marked variability, and segments of baseline that differ by > 25 bpm, In any 10-minute window, the minimum baseline duration must be 2 minutes, or the baseline for that period is indeterminate (refer to the previous 10-minute segment for determination of baseline), The nadir of the deceleration occurs at the same time as the peak of the contraction, The nadir of the deceleration occurs after the peak of the contraction, Abrupt decrease in FHR; if the nadir of the deceleration is 30 seconds, it cannot be considered a variable deceleration, Moderate baseline FHR variability, late or variable decelerations absent, accelerations present or absent, and normal baseline FHR (110 to 160 bpm), Continue current monitoring method (SIA or continuous EFM), Baseline FHR changes (bradycardia [< 110 bpm] not accompanied by absent baseline variability, or tachycardia [> 160 bpm]), Tachycardia: medication, maternal anxiety, infection, fever, Bradycardia: rupture of membranes, occipitoposterior position, post-term pregnancy, congenital anomalies, Consider expedited delivery if abnormalities persist, Change in FHR variability (absent and not accompanied by decelerations; minimal; or marked), Medications; sleep cycle; change in monitoring technique; possible fetal hypoxia or acidemia, Change monitoring method (internal monitoring if doing continuous EFM, or EFM if doing SIA), No FHR accelerations after fetal stimulation, FHR decelerations without absent variability, Late: possible uteroplacental insufficiency; epidural hypotension; tachysystole, Absent baseline FHR variability with recurrent decelerations (variable or late) and/or bradycardia, Uteroplacental insufficiency; fetal hypoxia or acidemia, 2.
