Antenatal Cardiotocography in the Evaluation of Fetal Well-Being

Abstract

Antenatal fetal heart rate monitoring is a reliable tool to detect the fetus at risk. In the interpretation of records, however, due account must be taken of maturation and fetal behavioural status. In this article the normal heart rate pattern throughout gestation is described. Visual quantitative and descriptive scoring systems are compared and the consequences of interobserver variability in assessing antenatal heart rate records are discussed. It is postulated that there is only a small--if any--place for oxytocin stress testing. Finally the clinical implications of the different fetal heart rate patterns are presented.