Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Meta-Analysis
. 2012 Jun 13;2012(6):CD000004.
doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD000004.pub2.

Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre-eclampsia

G Justus Hofmeyr  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre-eclampsia

G Justus Hofmeyr. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. .

Abstract

Background: Abdominal decompression was developed as a means of pain relief during labour. It has also been used for complications of pregnancy, and in healthy pregnant women in an attempt to improve fetal wellbeing and intellectual development.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to assess the effects of antenatal abdominal decompression for maternal hypertension or impaired fetal growth, on perinatal outcome.

Search methods: The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (2 February 2012).

Selection criteria: Randomised or quasi-randomised trials comparing abdominal decompression with no decompression in women with pre-eclampsia and/or fetuses thought to be compromised.

Data collection and analysis: Eligibility and trial quality were assessed by one review author.

Main results: Three studies were included, all with the possibility of containing serious bias. Therapeutic abdominal decompression was associated with the following reductions: persistent pre-eclampsia (relative risk 0.36, 95% confidence interval 0.18 to 0.72); fetal distress in labour (relative risk 0.37, 95% confidence interval 0.19 to 0.71); low birthweight (relative risk 0.50, 95% confidence interval 0.40 to 0.63); Apgar scores less than six at one minute (relative risk 0.26, 95% confidence interval 0.12 to 0.56); and perinatal mortality (relative risk 0.39, 95% confidence interval 0.22 to 0.71).

Authors' conclusions: Due to the methodological limitations of the studies, the effects of therapeutic abdominal decompression are not clear. The apparent improvements in birthweight and perinatal mortality warrant further evaluation of abdominal decompression where there is impaired fetal growth and possibly for women with pre-eclampsia.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

None known.

Figures

1.1
1.1. Analysis
Comparison 1 Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre‐eclampsia, Outcome 1 Unchanged or worsening pre‐eclampsia.
1.2
1.2. Analysis
Comparison 1 Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre‐eclampsia, Outcome 2 Induction of labour (all indications).
1.3
1.3. Analysis
Comparison 1 Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre‐eclampsia, Outcome 3 Induction for placental insufficiency.
1.4
1.4. Analysis
Comparison 1 Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre‐eclampsia, Outcome 4 Fetal distress in labour.
1.5
1.5. Analysis
Comparison 1 Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre‐eclampsia, Outcome 5 Low birthweight.
1.6
1.6. Analysis
Comparison 1 Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre‐eclampsia, Outcome 6 Apgar score <6 at 1 minute.
1.7
1.7. Analysis
Comparison 1 Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre‐eclampsia, Outcome 7 Perinatal mortality.
1.8
1.8. Analysis
Comparison 1 Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre‐eclampsia, Outcome 8 Urinary oestriol increase mg per week.
1.9
1.9. Analysis
Comparison 1 Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre‐eclampsia, Outcome 9 Fetal biparietal diameter increase mm per week.
1.10
1.10. Analysis
Comparison 1 Abdominal decompression for suspected fetal compromise/pre‐eclampsia, Outcome 10 Birthweight.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Update of

References

References to studies included in this review

Blecher 1967 {published data only}
    1. Blecher JA. Aspects of the physiology of decompression and its usage in the toxaemias of pregnancy and in fetal distress in labour [MD thesis]. South Africa: University of the Witwatersrand, 1967.
MacRae 1971 {published data only}
    1. MacRae DJ, Mohamedally SM, Willmott MP. Clinical and endocrinological aspects of dysmaturity and the use of intermittent abdominal decompression in pregnancy. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth 1971;78:636‐41. - PubMed
Varma 1973 {published data only}
    1. Varma TR, Curzen P. The effects of abdominal decompression on pregnancy complicated by the small‐for‐dates fetus. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the British Commonwealth 1973;80:1086‐94. - PubMed

References to studies excluded from this review

Coppola 1985 {published data only}
    1. Coppola F, Battioni M, Vessichelli R, Daoh KS, Bacchi‐Modena A. Auxologic results of abdominal decompression in growth disorders of the fetus. Minerva Ginecologica 1985; Vol. 37, issue 11:645‐52. [CN‐00279572] - PubMed

Additional references

Clarke 1999
    1. Clarke M, Oxman AD, editors. Cochrane Reviewers’ Handbook 4.0 [updated July 1999]. In: Review Manager (RevMan) [Computer program]. Version 4.0. Oxford, England: The Cochrane Collaboration, 1999.
Hofmeyr 1989
    1. Hofmeyr GJ. Abdominal decompression during pregnancy. In: Chalmers I, Enkin MW, Keirse MJNC editor(s). Effective Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1989:647‐652.
RevMan 1999 [Computer program]
    1. Update Software. Review Manager (RevMan). Version 4.0. Oxford, England: Update Software, 1999.

Publication types