[Terminal CTG as an expression of high degree fetal distress--1 case reports]

The cases of two patients, in whom conspicuous CTGs with restricted oscillation and late decelerations were registered in the final trimester of pregnancy, are presented. Following immediate hospitalisation and the rapid execution of a caesarean section, two depressed, severely acidotic neonates were born. Whilst the course of the pregnancy in the first case had been completely inconspicuous up to that point, and the acute occurrence of placental insufficiency must be assumed, the second patient was subject to pregnancy-induced hypertension with discrete foetal growth retardation. It is shown that two almost identical pathological CTG registrations may have different causes but that one must assume a high degree of sub partu risk to the child on the occurrence of a terminal CTG witch is characterised by line-shaped oscillation, possibly in combination with late decelerations.