An ominous undulating fetal heart rate pattern

Three cases of severely compromised fetuses are reported in which a similar FHR tracing was observed: an undulating pattern describing a "sinusoidal" shape, a frequency of 0.5-1 cpm, amplitude of 10-15 bpm, and flattened baseline varying between 60-120 bpm. This pattern appears to differ significantly from the sinusoidal pattern described previously and appears to identify an agonal or pre-agonal fetus that nonetheless may be salvageable and, therefore, requires maximal obstetric intervention.