Integrating technologies to provide comprehensive remote fetal surveillance: A prospective pilot study

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Telemedicine
• Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Background:

• Remote maternal-fetal care is expanding.
• Assessing fetal well-being remotely presents unique challenges.
• Existing telemedicine models primarily focus on maternal health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of incorporating remote fetal well-being assessments into maternal-fetal telemedicine care.
• To assess the efficacy of novel self-operated devices for remote fetal monitoring and amniotic fluid volume measurement.
• To compare the duration of telemedicine visits with traditional in-person visits and gauge patient satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• A prospective pilot study involving low-risk pregnant participants.
• Utilized self-operated fetal monitoring and ultrasound devices for remote assessment.
• Conducted modified biophysical profile (mBPP) assessments via telemedicine, measuring fetal heart rate and amniotic fluid volume.
• Collected data on visit duration and patient satisfaction.

Main Results:

• Nine out of ten (90%) participants successfully completed remote mBPP assessments.
• 100% of participants achieved satisfactory amniotic fluid volume measurements.
• Telemedicine encounters were significantly shorter (93.1 min) than in-person visits (247.2 min; P < 0.001).
• High patient satisfaction was reported.

Conclusions:

• Remote fetal well-being assessment is a feasible and time-saving addition to maternal-fetal telemedicine.
• This comprehensive remote assessment model offers significant clinical, socioeconomic, and logistical advantages.
• The study demonstrates the potential for advanced remote monitoring in obstetrics.