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Fetal breathing recorded by actocardiogram and real--time ultrasonography. A comparison
P Malcus1, K Razvi, S Arulkumaran
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital of Singapore, Singapore.
Background:
The aim of the study is to evaluate the ability of fetal actocardiogram to assess fetal breathing movements.
Methods:
A descriptive study. Evaluation of the agreement between real-time ultrasound and actocardiographic assessment of fetal breathing movements. Eleven unselected pregnancies admitted because of various pregnancy complications.
Results:
In six cases the breathing pattern recorded by the actocardiogram correlated to the findings with real-time ultrasonography. In five cases where fetal breathing was observed on the ultrasound screen, the actocardiogram did not either indicate breathing or was of an indecisive appearance. Two cases where no breathing was observed on real-time ultrasound yielded actocardiograms without patterns typical of breathing, but with activity difficult to distinguish from breathing.
Conclusions:
With the paper speed set at 3 cm/min it is possible to detect some types of fetal breathing or the absence of breathing with accuracy on the actocardiogram. However, in cases without deep and regular diaphragmatic excursions it is not possible to evaluate breathing with certainty by the actocardiogram.