European Community Multi-Center Trial "Fetal ECG Analysis During Labor": ST plus CTG analysis

This report form part of the European Community Multi-Center Trial "Fetal E CG Analysis during Labor". Aim of this prospective trial was to identify ch anges in the fetal ECG waveform with cases of verified fetal hypoxia. In th is paper we also report on the use of a newly developed automatic system fo r identification of ST waveform changes (ST Log). All ECG were recorded wit h the STAN recorder (Neoventa Medical AB, Gothenburg, Sweden). The ECG info rmation was not displayed during labor in order not to influence the clinic al management. This report includes data from 320 cases and include six cas es of fetal intrapartum hypoxia. Twenty seven cases showed changes in ST wa veform. All five cases with the most marked ST change (a rise in T/QRS of > 0.10 units and lasting more then 10 minutes) had signs of ongoing intrapart um hypoxia. Six out of six cases with evidence of intrapartum asphyxia, sho wed ST changes. On the basis of our multi-center trial it appears that the combined analysis of CTG and ST waveform changes provides an accurate way t o identify adverse events during labor. The work is continuing with a new S TAN recorder developed by Neoventa Medical in Goteborg and currently being tested in a Swedish randomized, controlled multi-center trial.