ASSESSMENT OF ANTEPARTUM CARDIOTOCOGRAMS IN HIGH‐RISK PREGNANCY

Abstract

A 10-point scoring system was used to assess 2770 antepartum cardiotocograms (CTG) obtained in 405 pregnancies [human] at risk. There were 284 pregnancies with a last CTG within 24 h before labor, Cesarean section or intrauterine death; these were analyzed separately and their outcome correlated well with the last CTG score, better than with individual CTG criteria. The relationship between CTG score and fetal condition at birth was particularly close for pregnancies with growth retardation, Rh isoimmunization or hypertension. A score of 8-10 reliably predicted good condition at birth in 95% of pregnancies which ended within 24 h and in 88% of those which ended after 3 or 4 days. A score of 5 points or less invariably indicated poor fetal condition with little chances of a normal outcome unless the cause could be effectively treated. The score provides a highly specific but moderately sensitive test for fetal well-being with virtually no false positive and only few false negative results. Almost 15% of CTG, scoring 6 or 7 points, provide too little information on fetal well-being to be of clinical value.