Computerized analysis of antepartum fetal heart rate tracings in normal pregnancies (version 88/2.29).

ABSTRACT

A computerized system is developed for the interpretation of antepartum fetal heart-rate monitoring. Various parameters are described to define the cardiotocograms. The pattern of the tracing is defined as saltatory, undulatory, reduced undulatory or silent according to the results of the spectrum analysis. Three different baselines including simple average baseline, real baseline and basecurve are described for each tracing. Spontaneous and fetal movement related accelerations and decelerations are also defined. Tracings from 33 normal pregnancies with normal outcome were studied and the distribution of parameters for each gestational week (28th to 40th) was defined. The real baseline of fetal heart rate was 141.5 +/- 8.5 between the 28th and 40th gestational week. 75% of the cardiotocograms were found to obtain fetal movement. It has also been observed that in normal pregnancies the general pattern of the tracings is undulatory or undulatory/saltatory.