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Fetal heart rate monitoring in labour: A critical review

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Hypoxische Gefährdung des Fetus sub partu

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Abstract

Continuous monitoring of the fetal heart rate (FHR) during labour has become widespread since its introduction into clinical practice during the 1960s. However, there has been increasing criticism of its routine use in recent years because of growing doubts about its effectiveness. Although early reports suggested that continuous FHR monitoring in high risk labour was associated with a reduction in the incidence of fetal and neonatal deaths related to labour (23, 36) there has been no evidence to show a similar benefit in terms of perinatal morbidity or long-term neurodevelopmental handicap. If anything, routine use of continuous FHR monitoring has been associated with an increase in operative delivery rates and an increasing rate of medico-legal cases against hospitals. Clearly, early expectations of the value of continuous FHR monitoring have not been realised.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College London Medical School, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK

    John A. D. Spencer FRCOG (Senior Clinical Lecturer and Consultant)

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  1. John A. D. Spencer FRCOG
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Frauenklinik/Perinatologisches Labor, Klinikum GroĂźhadern, MarchioninistraĂźe 15, 81366, MĂĽnchen, Deutschland

    Reinhold Knitza

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© 1994 Dr. Dietrich Steinkopff Verlag, GmbH & Co. KG, Darmstadt

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Spencer, J.A.D. (1994). Fetal heart rate monitoring in labour: A critical review. In: Knitza, R. (eds) Hypoxische Gefährdung des Fetus sub partu. Steinkopff. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-95982-0_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-95982-0_3

  • Publisher Name: Steinkopff

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-95983-7

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-95982-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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