LONGITUDINAL VARIATION OF COMPUTERIZED FETAL HEART-RATE-VARIABILITY IN GROWTH-RETARDED FETUSES

Objective: The fundamental aim of the study was to verify if any longi tudinal variations could be found in the measuring of variability of f etal heart rate through a computerized analysis in the period prior to the appearance of repetitive decelerations. Methods: A longitudinal s tudy on 11 patients with gestational hypertension, fetal asymmetric in trauterine growth retardation, and with altered peripheral doppler pul satility indexes (UA/ICA ratio > 2 SD) was conducted by using the comp uterized fetal heart rate software ''System 8000.'' Main Outcome Measu res: The analysis of fetal heart rate variability indexes (long-term m ean range and short term) was performed during the last 7 days precedi ng a cesarean section for fetal distress. Results: A progressive and s ignificant decrease (ANOVA P < .001) in the percentual variation is ob served both for mean range and for short-term variability if the value s obtained during the recordings made 7 days before birth are taken in to consideration and compared with those obtained the day before birth . On the contrary, there seems to be no significance in the variations of values obtained from daily controls. An abrupt decrease in short-t erm variability seems to precede the appearance of repetitive late dec elerations. Conclusions: Numerical automatic analysis of variability s eems to help in the evaluation of fetal conditions before the appearan ce of repetitive decelerations although the daily variations might not be effective.