Validity of fetal pulse oximetry in predicting fetal outcome in patients with non-assuring external fetal heart rate monitoring

ABSTRACT

To assess the sensitivity and predicitive values of fetal pulse oximetry in predicting fetal outcome in patients with non-assuring CTG. Women with singleton fetus and non-assuring fetal heart rate pattern during active phase of the first stage of labor were randomised into two groups; case and control. All fetuses had umbilical artery sampling when the baby was born. Fetuses in study group were additionally evaluated using fetal pulse oximetry. The study showed statistically significant correlation between the fetal pulse oximetry measurements and the umbilical artery pH, PO2, PCO2 and Apgar scores. The sensitivity of fetal pulse oximetry in this study was 77.3%. Its specificity was 95%. Positive predictive value was 89.5% and the negative predictive value was 88.4%. Fetal pulse oximetry is a successful intrapartum monitoring tool to be applied in fetuses with non-assuring fetal heart rate patterns. FPO may help obstetricians in the process of decision making and the use of FPO may help avoid unnecessary cesarean sections performed due to abnormal FHR tracing