Salahuddin N, Saif N, Mumtaz A, Farooq F.
Obstetrical and Fetal Outcome in patients with Abnormal Cardiotocograph.
Biomedica Jan ;33(4):309-13.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of abnormal CTG pattern in late antenatal period and labour on the obstetrical and neonatal outcomes, in terms of mode of delivery and Apgar score of baby. Methodology: Patients were collected by non-probability consecutive sampling. All patients presenting in gynae outdoor department and labour ward, who were between 37- 42 weeks of gestation and cephalic presentation with high risk pregnancy and CTG was indicated on clinical indications were included in the study. Patients with multiple gestation, anomalous fetus and admitted for elective caesarean section were excluded from study. CTG was done and according to CTG findings, the patients were divided into two groups. Group A ? patients with reactive trace and group B ? patients with abnormal trace, including suspicious or pathological trace. Results: In our study, 214 high risk pregnant patients were included. Group-A, included 124 patients with reactive CTG, whereas group-B included 90 patients having non-reactive CTG including both suspicious and pathological traces. In group-A, 58.0% of patients had vaginal deliveries and 42% had caesarean section but 23.3% delivered vaginally and 76.7% had caesarean section in group-B. In group-A, 37.9% of newborns had Apgar score < 7 at 1 minute whereas, patients in group-B had 64.4% babies with score of < 7. Low Apgar score at 5 minute persisted in 28.2 % of neonates in group-A and 46.66% of neonates in group-B. Resuscitation of newborns, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admissions and early neonatal death rate were greater in group B than group A. Conclusion: Cardiotocography can be used as good screening tool for fetal surveillance especially in centers where fetal blood sampling or fetal ECG is not available. Abnormal CTG may influence the maternal and fetal outcome.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com