Cardiotocography

Question 1

What does a CTG stand for?

Answer 1

Cardiotocography

Question 2

What does a CTG do?

Answer 2

Records pressure changes in the uterus using internal or external pressure transducers

Question 3

Normal foetal heart rate

Answer 3

100 - 160 bpm

Question 4

Baseline foetal bradycardia

Answer 4

< 100 bpm

Question 5

Causes of baseline foetal bradycardia

Answer 5

Increased foetal vagal tone

Maternal beta blocker use

Question 6

Baseline foetal tachycardia

Answer 6

> 160 bpm

Question 7

Causes of baseline foetal tachycardia

Answer 7

Maternal pyrexia
Chorioamnionitis
Hypoxia
Prematurity

Question 8

What is early deceleration on a CTG?

Answer 8

Deceleration of a heart rate which commences with the onset of a contraction and returns to normal on the completion of the contraction

Question 9

Causes of early deceleration on a CTG

Answer 9

Usually an innocuous feature and indicates head compression

Question 10

What is a late deceleration on CTG?

Answer 10

Deceleration of the heart rate which lags the onset of a contraction and does not return to normal until after 30 seconds following the end of the contraction

Question 11

Causes of late deceleration on a CTG

Answer 11

Foetal distress e.g. asphyxia or placental insufficiency

Question 12

What are variable decelerations?

Answer 12

Independent of contractions

Question 13

What may variable decelerations indicate?

Answer 13

Cord compression