Telemetric cardiotocography--clinical value and limits of the method in routine monitoring

Abstract

Cardiotocography by external telemetry and maternal ambulation has been compared to the usual recording in recumbent position. The visual interpretation extended to several items, such as technical quality, CTG scoring, contractions and foetal activity, which were interpreted for single groups of gestational age and diagnosis. A questionnaire of the patients joined with this study, referring to the acceptance of cardiotocography, definitely voted for the telemetrical method. As to the valuation of the cardiotocograms (CTGs), it was necessary to consider a slight restriction of the undulation of the foetal heart rate by telemetry. Referring to the technical quality of the CTGs, the telemetrical method was inferior in all points while recording in recumbent position. Problems appeared to occur especially with adipose gravidas. In patients with toxaemia, we noticed a tendency to increasing systolic blood pressure combined with growing restriction of foetal undulation by telemetrical recording. The use of external telemetry with maternal ambulation at other diagnostical situations should depend only on technical quality and maternal acceptance of telemetry, since there are no differences with respect to information.