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Updated: Feb 27, 2026
Noninvasive Electrocardiography in the Perinatal Mouse
Published on: June 12, 2020
Validation of a new algorithm for the short-term variation of the fetal heart rate: an antepartum prospective study
Christina Kouskouti1, Hella Jonas2, Kerstin Regner2
1Department of Obstetrics and Perinatal Medicine, Klinik Hallerwiese, St. Johannis-Mühlgasse 19, 90419 Nuremberg, Germany, Tel.: +49 162 7929487, +49 911 33402355, Fax: +49 911 33402301.
Aims:
Currently one of the most widespread systems for the computerized analysis of the fetal heart rate (FHR) is the Dawes-Redman system, where the short-term variation (STV) of the FHR is measured by dividing each minute into 16 segments (STV16). Technical progress has allowed for the development of a new algorithm, which measures the STV by dividing each minute into 240 segments (STV240), thus approximating the beat-to-beat variation. The STV240 still lacks reference values. Our aim was to develop clinically relevant reference values for the STV240 and compare them to the ones for the STV16.
Methods:
In a single centre, observational study, a total of 228 cardiotocograms were registered and subsequently analyzed with both algorithms (STV240 and STV16).
Results:
The 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated for both algorithms. The values of the STV240 were significantly lower in comparison to the ones of the STV16. Not only the mean values but also the 95th percentile of the STV240 lay beneath the existent cut-off value for the STV16.
Conclusions:
Every clinician using the new algorithm must be aware that the normal values for the STV240 lie beneath the, up until now, established cut-off values for the STV16.
