The effect of modern intensive monitoring in obstetrics on infant mortality and the incidence of hypoxia and acidosis

Abstract

We consider intensive monitoring to be fetal monitoring during labor and in the newborn period of all births using the most efficient methods. During the last ten years we have sequentially used the following techniques: Amnioscopy, blood analysis, estrogen determinations in urine, external and internal cardiotokography and internal pressure determinations, gas analyses of umbilical blood. amniotic fluid analyses (phospholipids), ultrasound (B-apparatus) and HCS determinations. All clinics dealing with risk pregnancies should have these techniques available. Total perinatal mortality decreased to below 2% after introduction of cardiotokography. During the last year it decreased to 0.89%. Premature mortality shows the same decrease and is 50% of total mortality. The frequency of premature deliveries remained unchanged at 6.2%. Both improved intensive monitoring and neonatal reanimation and intensive care contributed to the reduction of perinatal mortality. Continuous heart rate recordings make it possible to uncover hypoxic and acidotic states in time and this is of particular value for the premature infant. The incidence of acidosis (pH less than 7.10) was 2.03% before monitoring was introduced and fell to 0.45% this year when intensive monitoring became the rule. No pH lower than 7.0 was found this year. It is thus not sufficient to monitor only cases at risk, since in about 50% of infants born with acidosis no alarming symptoms were found that would have indicated the need for intensive monitoring. Infant mortality should be reduced to less than 1% if the diagnostic tools available are applied. Below this nonviable infants limit further improvement. Perinatal hypoxia and acidosis (below pH 7.10) should also be lower than 0.5% but at least lower than 1%.