Assessment of Foetal Wellbeing Flashcards
What are the US parameters used in foetal surveillance?
- Foetal biometry
- AFI
- Biphysical profile
- Dopplers
What is foetal biometry?
-Head circumference
-Abdominal circumference
-Femur length
Involves absolute and serial measurements.
What is the amniotic fluid index?
Sum of the vertical depth of amniotic fluid in each of the four quadrants.
N: 7-20
What are the components of foetal activity assessed on US?
- Body movements
- Breathing movements
- Tone
What is the biophysical profile of the foetus on US?
5 parameters, 2 points each. 8/10+ = reassuring
- Body movements
- Breathing movements
- tone
- Amniotic fluid index
- CTG
What is assessed on doppler US?
- Umbilical artery (waveform)
- MCA
What is the significance of the umbilical artery waveform?
- Raised SDR, absent EDF, then reversed EDF a/w
- progressive deterioration in placental gas exchange
- evidenced by stepwise increase in perinatal mortality
Normal CTG baseline?
110-160bpm
Normal CTG variability?
5-25bpm
Normal CTG accelerations?
15bpm for 15s
Normal CTG decelerations?
No ominous decelerations
What are the abnormal CTG variability patterns?
- INCREASED (>25bpm): hypoxia
- REDUCED (3-5bpm): sick (hypoxia), sleeping, sedated, submature (SSSS)
- ABSENT
Causes of sedation as detected by non-reactive, reduced variability CTG?
- sedatives
- anti-HT
- anti convulsants
What are the characteristics of early decelerations?
RARE – Timing: simultaneous with contraction, uniform, repetitive – Shape: Gradual onset and recovery – Depth: Almost invariably shallow – Cause: Head compression
Receptor associated with early decelerations?
Pain receptor