Computerized Fetal Heart Rate Analysis, Doppler Ultrasound and Biophysical Profile Score in the Prediction of Acid–Base Status of Growth-Restricted Fetuses
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Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2007; 30: 750–756 Published online 10 August 2007 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/uog.4101 Computerized fetal heart rate analysis, Doppler ultrasound and biophysical profile score in the prediction of acid–base status of growth-restricted fetuses S. TURAN*†, O. M. TURAN*†, C. BERG‡, D. MOYANO†, A. BHIDE§, S. BOWER†, B. THILAGANATHAN§, U. GEMBRUCH‡, K. NICOLAIDES†, C. HARMAN* and A. A. BASCHAT* *Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA, †Harris Birthright Research Centre for Fetal Medicine, King’s College Hospital and §Fetal Medicine Unit, St George’s Hospital Medical School, London, UK and ‡Department of Obstetrics and Prenatal Medicine, Friedrich-Wilhelm University, Bonn, Germany KEYWORDS: arterial Doppler; biophysical profile scoring; computerized CTG; cord pH; fetal growth restriction; non-stress test; venous Doppler ABSTRACT patients with an equivocal or normal BPS. Abnormal DV Doppler correctly identified false positives among Objective To investigate the performance of non-stress patients with an abnormal BPS. cCTG reduced the rate test (NST), computerized fetal heart rate analysis (cCTG), of an equivocal BPS from 16% to 7.1% when substituted biophysical profile scoring (BPS) and arterial and venous for the traditional NST. Elevated DV Doppler index and Doppler ultrasound investigation in the prediction of umbilical venous pulsations predicted a low pH with 73% acid–base status in fetal growth restriction. sensitivity and 90% specificity (P = 0.008). Methods Growth-restricted fetuses, defined by abdomi- Conclusion In fetal growth restriction with placental nal circumference < 5th percentile and umbilical artery insufficiency, venous Doppler investigation provides the (UA) pulsatility index > 95th percentile, were tested by best prediction of acid–base status. The cCTG performs NST, cCTG, BPS, and UA, middle cerebral artery (MCA), best when combined with venous Doppler or as a ductus venosus (DV) and umbilical vein (UV) Doppler substitute for the traditional NST in the BPS. Copyright investigation. The short-term variation (STV) of the fetal 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. heart rate was calculated using the Oxford Sonicaid 8002 cCTG system. Relationships between antenatal test results andcordarterypH< 7.20 were investigated, using cor- relation, parametric and non-parametric tests. INTRODUCTION Results Fifty-six of 58 patients (96.6%) received complete The role of antenatal surveillance is the detection assessment of all variables. All were delivered by pre- of preventable fetal damage. This includes stillbirth labor Cesarean section at a median gestational age and deterioration of the acid–base balance, the latter of 30 + 6 weeks. The UA pulsatility index (PI) was being considered one of the antecedents to adverse negatively correlated with the cCTG STV (Pearson neurodevelopment1. The term ‘small for gestational age’ correlation −0.29, P < 0.05). The DV PI was negatively describes a group of neonates with a birth weight below correlated with the pH (Pearson correlation −0.30, the 10th percentile. This term does not distinguish between P < 0.02). The cCTG mean minute variation and pH constitutionally small infants and growth delay due to were not significantly correlated (Pearson correlation underlying pathology. Fetuses suffering from growth 0.13, P = 0.34). UV pulsations identified the highest restriction due to placental insufficiency (IUGR) are at risk proportion of neonates with a low birth pH (9/17, 53%), for all of the above complications and, during progressive the highest number of false positives among patients deterioration, show signs that can be detected in all with an abnormal BPS, abnormal DV Doppler and a antenatal surveillance modalities. As the timing of preterm STV < 3.5 ms, and also stratified false negatives among delivery has an independent effect on outcome, identifying Correspondence to: Dr A. A. Baschat, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland, 405 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA (e-mail: [email protected]) Accepted: 23 May 2007 Copyright 2007 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. ORIGINAL PAPER Prediction of acid–base status in IUGR 751 surveillance tests that have the highest predictive accuracy umbilical artery (UA) pulsatility index (PI) by local ref- for fetal risks is a high priority2. The principal surveillance erence ranges; (d) delivery at a viable gestational age. modalities that have evolved for this purpose are fetal Exclusion criteria for final analysis were: (a) evidence of heart rate analysis, biophysical profile scoring and fetal infection; (b) chorioamnionitis; (c) fetal anomalies; multivessel Doppler investigation. (d) abnormal fetal karyotype; or (e) patient withdrawal Antepartum fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring in from the study and/or unavailability of follow-up. The the form of the non-stress test (NST) is one of the study was performed at the Center for Advanced Fetal first surveillance tests used in obstetric practice. The Care at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA, importance of assessing FHR control is documented by The Harris Birthright Research Centre at King’s Col- the high sensitivity to detect fetal hypoxemia. However, lege, London, UK, the Department for Obstetrics and observer variability and the relative inability to distinguish Fetal Medicine at the University of Bonn, Germany, and between pathologic and physiologic variations of the the Fetal Medicine Unit at St George’s Hospital Medical fetal heart rate limit the specificity of this test3,4.This School, London, UK. The study protocol was approved limited accuracy of the traditional NST, particularly in by the individual institutional review boards. conditions such as preterm IUGR, is one of the factors All study participants underwent uniform antenatal that led to the development of computerized fetal heart assessment, utilizing traditional NST, cCTG and BPS rate analysis. The computerized cardiotocogram (cCTG) after Manning et al.14 and multivessel arterial and venous not only reduces the inconsistencies of the traditional NST Doppler investigation. The testing methods, including the but also determines fetal heart rate parameters, such as graded criteria for FHR reactivity, have been described in the short-term variation (STV), that cannot be visually detail3. For the cCTG, the fetal heart rate recorded by the assessed but provide a more reliable prediction of fetal Sonicaid FM 7 monitor was transmitted to the analysis acidemia5–7. system through a RS 232 port (System 8002; Oxford Another approach to improving limitations of the Instruments Ltd, Medical Division, Abingdon, UK). The traditional NST led to the incorporation of fetal system reports the baseline heart rate in beats/min, number dynamic variables (tone, movement, breathing) and fetal of accelerations of 10 and 15 beats/min for 15 s, number cardiovascular status (amniotic fluid production) into the of decelerations exceeding 15 beats/min for at least 15 s, prediction of acid–base balance. This five-component duration of episodes of high and low variation (min), and biophysical profile score provides accurate assessment long- and short-term variation (ms). The system has been of fetal acid–base balance from the early mid-trimester descried elsewhere4,15,16.InpatientswithnormalSTV onwards8. In addition to behavioral responses, many and heart rate parameters, recordings were performed for cardiovascular manifestations have been described in at least 30 min. In patients with low STV, recordings were IUGR. The evolution of Doppler assessment into a always performed over 1 h unless there was an indication multivessel format incorporating arterial and venous for immediate delivery. circulations has mirrored the integrated approach utilized The traditional NST was performed over a 30-min in the biophysical profile score. Umbilical artery Doppler interval. Heart rate reactivity was graded by gestational allows the diagnosis of placental vascular insufficiency criteria and considered to be present if it fulfilled the as a cause of growth restriction with greater precision following criteria: 24–29 weeks’ gestation, two 10-beat than simple measurement of fetal size. Progressive accelerations, each sustained for 10 s; 30–36 weeks, two abnormalities in the cerebral and venous circulation 15-beat accelerations, each sustained for 15 s; after provide evidence of deteriorating fetal condition and 36 weeks, two 20-beat accelerations, each sustained acid–base status9,10. for 20 s. The NST was considered abnormal (non- Previous studies have evaluated the relationship of reactive) when these criteria for reactivity were not biophysical and Doppler parameters in IUGR7. Doppler met. For the cCTG, the STV (in ms) was noted. Two parameters, traditional NST and the cCTG have methods were used for defining an abnormal STV: equally been compared with each other in observational first, by using the 2.5th percentile for gestational age studies11–13. It was our aim to concurrently evaluate all as a cutoff (24–28 weeks, 4.4 ms; 28–30 weeks, 5 ms; of these surveillance modalities for their ability to predict 30–32 weeks, 5.4 ms; 32–34 weeks, 5.9 ms; > 34 weeks, acid–base balance at birth in growth-restricted fetuses. 6ms)4,15; second, by using a single cutoff of 3.5 ms to define abnormal16. For the BPS, a score of 0, 2, 4 or 6 with oligohydramnios (maximal vertical pocket METHODS