Role of admission test by Cardiotocography (CTG) as a predictor of perinatal outcome: A prospective study

Abstract

Background: Routine and continuous electronic monitoring of foetal heart rate (FHR) in labour has become an established obstetric practice. In this study we aim to evaluate if the admission Cardiotocography (CTG) can be used as a predictor in detecting foetal hypoxia at the time of admission in labour and to correlate the results of the admission CTG with the perinatal outcome. Material & Method: Total of 100 patients admitted in the labour room with singleton live pregnancy after 37 weeks of gestation were included in this prospective observational study. Foetal heart tracing was recorded at the time of admission to labor room, for a period of 20 minutes and evaluated using standard procedure. Result: One hundred patients were recruited. The admission CTG were ‘reactive’ in 67, equivocal in 21, and ‘ominous’ in 12 women. Occurrence of foetal distress, meconium stained liquor and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission was significantly more frequent among patients with ominous test results compared with equivocal or reactive test results on admission. Incidence of vaginal delivery was more common when the test was reactive. Conclusion: It is simple and easy test and an effective screening test to identify group of women with greater risk of Intrapartum foetal hypoxia and prevents unnecessary delay in intervention.