The fetal electrocardiogram

Abstract

Advances in microprocessing technology have made fetal ECG analysis a feasible adjunct to fetal surveillance. Time interval and morphology changes of the FECG occur during fetal hypoxia. The use of these changes to detect a fetus at risk of intrapartum asphyxia awaits validation in terms of both future and ongoing clinical trials. Recognition of FECG changes during decelerations may improve the sensitivity of EFM. Antepartum FECG analysis has potential for the detection of a number of pathological fetal conditions, including intrauterine growth retardation, but remains hampered by low signal-to-noise ratios, rendering successful signal acquisition unreliable.