Computer Description of the Cardiotocogram

Abstract

Abstract. Principles of calculations used for computer description of the cardiotocogram (CTG) were evaluated. Fetal heart rate (FHR) and intrauterine pressure (IUP) were recorded simultaneously on magnetic tape. Subsequent quantitative analysis was performed on a general purpose digital minicomputer. The program automatically detects decelerations, accelerations and uterine contractions. The following variables are determined automatically: baseline level and variability; duration, amplitude, area, latency time and lagtime of the alterations; uterine resting tone; duration, amplitude and area of uterine contractions. Trends of all variables can be presented graphically. The program can function off‐line, as well as on‐line, using about seven minutes of computational time to describe one hour of CTG.