FHR: Cardiotocography Flashcards
Components of CTG
CARDIOGRAM
FHR
- Baseline FHR
- Variability
- Reactivity
TOCOGRAM
Uterine contractions
- freq, intensity)
Baseline FHR range
Normal: 110-160 bpm
Tachycardia: > 160bpm
Bradycardia: < 110bpm
- Reflects BALANCE of autonomic nervous system
- Preterm: Faster
- Postdates: Slower
Variability range
5-25bpm
Reactivity
At least 2 accelerations in 20 mins
- Transient increase in heart rate more than 15bpm and lasts 15s or more
Causes of abnormal baseline FHR (tachycardia)
- Fetal hypoxia
- Maternal pyrexia
- Fetal/maternal hyperthyroidism
- Fetal/maternal anemia
- Fetal/maternal acidosis
- Fetal tachyarrythmias
Causes of abnormal baseline FHR (bradycardia)
- Severe fetal hypoxia
- Maternal beta-blocker therapy
- Hypothyroidism
- Fetal heart block
- Hypotension
- Epidural
- Change in maternal position, vagal reflex due to VE
- One of the 3 major emergencies
1. Cord prolapse
2. Placental abruption
3. Scar rupture
Variability
- Beat to beat variations in FHR that are NOT accelerations or decelerations
- Difference between highest and lowest point of the trace in any 1 minute segment
- Indicates ability of CNS to monitor and adjust CVS
Reduced variability indicates
increased acidosis
increased sympathetic tone
Complete loss of variability indicates
inability of myocardium to respond
Variability range
Normal: 5-25bpm
Reduced: < 5 bpm
Saltatory: > 25 bpm (*suggests fetal maternal haemorrhage)
Variability may be affected by:
- Fetus’ sleep-wake cycle (~15mins, should not exceed 40mins)
- Drugs e.g. MgSO4, methyldopa, opioids, steroids
- GA < 28w (immature autonomic nervous system)
- Maternal or fetal acidosis
- Fetal stroke
Loss of variability is a sign of
decompensation
- increased acidosis
- increased sympathetic tone
Sinusoidal waves in cardiogram
FHR with no beat-to-beat variation and no accelerations
- smooth, regular, wave-like pattern
- unstable baseline
- extremely reduced variability
Causes of sinusoidal waves
Severe fetal anemia
Fetal/maternal haemorrhage
Brain damage
Severe fetal hypoxia
Rarely: Thumb sucking
Accelerations
Intermittent increase in FHR of > 15 beats lasting for 15 seconds
- Signifies normal fetal oxygenation and verify that fetus has capacity to respond
- Mainly due to somatic nervous system eg. kicks, movements
Reactive CTG means
At least 2 accelerations every 20 mins