Related Experiment Videos

Fetal heart rate response to vibratory acoustic stimulation predicts fetal pH in labor

T G Edersheim1, J M Hutson, M L Druzin

  • 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical Center, NY 10021.

Vibratory acoustic stimulation was performed during labor in 188 instances 60 seconds before fetal scalp puncture was done to determine fetal scalp blood pH. The fetal heart rate response was recorded for both vibratory acoustic stimulation and fetal scalp puncture. No instance of fetal acidosis occurred in the presence of an acceleration to either vibratory acoustic stimulation or fetal scalp puncture. Vibratory acoustic stimulation was more likely to elicit an acceleration than fetal scalp puncture in the nonacidotic fetus. Vibratory acoustic stimulation is less invasive and may be used in some instances in which fetal scalp blood puncture for pH determination is technically impossible.

Related Concept Videos