Intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring as a predictor of fetal distress and immediate neonatal condition in low-birth weight (≤ 1,800 grams) infants

Abstract

Among 1,318 live born infants delivered in our institution during a 120-day period, 1,025 (77.8%) were monitored electronically. Of the 1,025 monitored infants, 89 were of low birth weight (less than or equal to 1,800 gm) and were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit. Twenty-seven (30%) of these had abnormal fetal heart rate tracings. The remaining 62 (70%) had normal fetal heart rate tracings. Of the 27 low-birth weight neonates with an abnormal fetal heart rate tracing, 24 (89%) were asphyxiated, whereas of those 62 low-birth weight infants with a normal fetal heart rate tracing, only nine (14%) had asphyxia (p less than 0.001). Of the 27 low-birth weight neonates with abnormal fetal heart rate tracings, 20 (74%) developed hyaline membrane disease, whereas of the 62 low-birth weight neonates with normal fetal heart rate tracings, 10 (16%) developed hyaline membrane disease (p less than 0.001). The results of this study suggest that electronic fetal monitoring provides a specific and sensitive method for identifying those low-birth weight infants who are at high risk for asphyxia and hyaline membrane disease.