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The heart rate

The FHR rate is calculated outside accelerations and decelerations and actually corresponds to the average of the baseline values.

  • the difficulty lies in positioning the baseline (Fig. 1.6); determining it requires a minimum period of 2 minutes;
  • this baseline rate is classified as:
    • normal, between 110 and 160 bpm; due to vagal dominance, there is a decrease in heart rate during the 3rd trimester; from 36 to 39 weeks, it is < 160 bpm and from 40 to 42 weeks, < 150 bpm.
    • tachycardic, if it is above 160 bpm for more than 10 minutes;
    • bradycardic, if it is below 110 bpm for more than 10 minutes.

References

  1. Amorim-Costa C., Costa-Santos C., Ayres-de Campos D., et Bernardes J. Longitudinal evaluation of computerized cardiotocographic parameters throughout pregnancy in normal fetuses: A prospective cohort study. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 95 (10): 1143–1152, Oct. 2016. ISSN 0001-6349, 1600-0412. doi: 10.1111/aogs.12932.
  2. Ayres-de-Campos D., Spong C. Y., et Chandraharan E. FIGO consensus guidelines on intrapartum fetal monitoring: Cardiotocography. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics, 131 (1): 13–24, 2015b. ISSN 0020-7292. doi: 10.1016/j.ijgo.2015.06.020.
  3. Chandraharan E., Pereira S., Ghi T., Gracia Perez-Bonfils A., Fieni S., Jia Y.-J., Griffiths K., Sukumaran S., Ingram C., Reeves K., Bolten M., Loser K., Carreras E., Suy A., Garcia-Ruiz I., Galli L., et Zaima A. International expert consensus statement on physiological interpretation of cardiotocograph (CTG) - First revision (2024). European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 302: 346–355, Nov. 2024. ISSN 03012115. doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2024.09.034.
  4. Ghi T., Di Pasquo E., Dall'Asta A., Commare A., Melandri E., Casciaro A., Fieni S., et Frusca T. Intrapartum fetal heart rate between 150 and 160 bpm at or after 40 weeks and labor outcome. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand, 100 (3): 548–554, Mar. 2021. ISSN 0001-6349, 1600-0412. doi: 10.1111/aogs.14024.
  5. Pereira S., Lau K., Modestini C., Wertheim D., et Chandraharan E. Absence of fetal heart rate cycling on the intrapartum cardiotocograph (CTG) is associated with intrapartum pyrexia and lower Apgar scores. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 35 (25): 7980–7985, 2022. ISSN 1476-7058, 1476-4954. doi: 10.1080/14767058.2021.1940130.
  6. Pézard P. et Boussion F. Troubles du rythme cardiaque foetal chap. 9. In Echocardiographie Fœtale, pages 349–359. Elsevier Masson, 2013.
  7. Sukumaran S., Pereira V., Mallur S., et Chandraharan E. Cardiotocograph (CTG) changes and maternal and neonatal outcomes in chorioamnionitis and/or funisitis confirmed on histopathology. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 260: 183–188, 2021.

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