[Computerized automatic analysis of the cardiotocogram (results of an international multicenter study]

By means of an international multicentre study (SU, Socialist Republic of Poland, Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia, GDR) 403 patients with computerized CTG-analysis and 393 patients with visual CTG-analysis in labour were investigated in relation to course of labour and neonatal outcome. The following results were fixed: The computerized CTG-analysis by help of the equipment "robotron-NATALI" is equal the statement of high qualified perinatologists. The computerized CTG-analysis led significantly more frequently in various stages of labour to the diagnosis "prepathological" CTG-pattern (warn signs) in relation to visual CTG-analysis with a significantly higher rate of fetal pH-measurements. That means, that the sensitivity of this method is greater. The safety in frame of electronic supervision of labour is improved. The number of "acut-tocolysis" in various stages of labour for both collectives wasn't significantly too. The rate of caesarean section and the rate of operative vaginally deliveries (forceps, vacuum-extraction) showed in both collectives no significantly differences. The neonatal morbidity (APGAR score, pHUA) matured analogous results in the collective with and without computerized CTG-analysis. A decline of "acidotic" morbidity in the collective with computerized CTG-analysis wasn't mentioned. One stillbirth was found in the collective with visual CTG-analysis. In spite of that computerized CTG-analysis showed no better results in perinatological centres in relation to visual CTG-analysis this method is the basis for very important perinatological aims how computer controlled infusion in connection with termination of labour as well as computer steered tocolysis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)