New possibilities to use cardiotocography to assess the fetal functional state in the second trimester of pregnancy

Objective. To investigate the feasibility of using cardiotocography (CTG) in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy to assess the fetal functional state and identify criteria for characterizing fetal hypoxia in this period of gestation. Material and methods. This study analyzed the features of CTG in the 2nd trimester in 100 pregnant women with a physiological course of pregnancy and childbirth and 40 pregnant women with adverse perinatal outcomes. Results. The following CTG parameters were characteristic of pregnant women with physiological pregnancy in the second trimester: STV more than 3.2 ms, LTV more than 37 ms, EHV more than 5, ELV less than 4 minutes, and fewer than three decelerations. The patients with gestational complications had the following CTG findings: an STV decrease below 3.2 ms; LTV below 37 ms; the combination of a decrease in EHV of less than 5 minutes with an increase in ELV of more than 5 minutes, and more than three decelerations. Conclusion. The criteria for the pathological type of CTG in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy cannot be used to diagnose fetal hypoxia but may help predict the development of gestational complications.

cardiotocography, short-term variability (STV), long-term variability (LTV), episodes of high and low