Fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) for fetal monitoring during labour

Hypoxaemia during labour can alter the shape of the fetal electrocardiogram (ECG) waveform, notably the relation of the PR to RR intervals, and elevation or depression of the ST segment. Technical systems have therefore been developed to monitor the fetal ECG during labour as an adjunct to continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring with the aim of improving fetal outcome and minimising unnecessary obstetric interference.

To compare the effects of analysis of fetal ECG waveforms during labour with alternative methods of fetal monitoring.

The Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (latest search 12 February 2013).

Randomised trials comparing fetal ECG waveform analysis with alternative methods of fetal monitoring during labour.

Trial quality assessment and data extraction were performed by one review author, without blinding.

Six trials (16,295 women) were included: five trials of ST waveform analysis (15,338 women) and one trial of PR interval analysis (957 women). In comparison to continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring alone, the use of adjunctive ST waveform analysis made no significant difference to primary outcomes: births by caesarean section (risk ratio (RR) 0.99, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.91 to 1.08), the number of babies with severe metabolic acidosis at birth (cord arterial pH less than 7.05 and base deficit greater than 12 mmol/L) (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.44 to 1.37, data from 14,574 babies), or babies with neonatal encephalopathy (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.24 to 1.25). There were, however, on average fewer fetal scalp samples taken during labour (RR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.91) although the findings were heterogeneous; there were fewer operative vaginal deliveries (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.98) and admissions to special care unit (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.81 to 0.99); there was no statistically significant difference in the number of babies with low Apgar scores at five minutes or babies requiring neonatal intubation. There was little evidence that monitoring by PR interval analysis conveyed any benefit.

These findings provide some modest support for the use of fetal ST waveform analysis when a decision has been made to undertake continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring during labour. However, the advantages need to be considered along with the disadvantages of needing to use an internal scalp electrode, after membrane rupture, for ECG waveform recordings.