The impact of the introduction of intrapartum fetal ECG ST segment analysis. A population study

Abstract Introduction ST segment analysis (STAN) of the fetal electrocardiogram was introduced as an adjunct to cardiotocography for intrapartum fetal monitoring 30 years ago. We examined the impact of the introduction of STAN on changes in the occurrence of fetal and neonatal deaths, Apgar scores o...

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Main Authors: Ellen Blix, Anne Eskild, Irene Skau, Jostein Grytten
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-07-01
Series:Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14347
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author Ellen Blix
Anne Eskild
Irene Skau
Jostein Grytten
author_facet Ellen Blix
Anne Eskild
Irene Skau
Jostein Grytten
author_sort Ellen Blix
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction ST segment analysis (STAN) of the fetal electrocardiogram was introduced as an adjunct to cardiotocography for intrapartum fetal monitoring 30 years ago. We examined the impact of the introduction of STAN on changes in the occurrence of fetal and neonatal deaths, Apgar scores of <7 at 5 min, intrapartum cesarean sections, and instrumental vaginal deliveries while controlling for time‐ and hospital‐specific trends and maternal risk factors. Material and Methods Data were retrieved from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway from 1985 to 2014. Individual data were linked to the Education Registry and the Central Person Registry. The study sample included 1 132 022 singleton births with a gestational age of 36 weeks or beyond. Information about the year of STAN introduction was collected from every birth unit in Norway using a questionnaire. Our data structure consisted of a hospital‐year panel. We applied a linear probability model with hospital‐fixed effects and with adjustment for potentially confounding factors. The prevalence of the outcomes before and after the introduction of STAN were compared within each birth unit. Results In total, 23 birth units, representing 76% of all births in Norway, had introduced the STAN technology. During the study period, stillbirths declined from 2.6 to 1.9 per 1000 births, neonatal deaths declined from 1.7 to 0.7 per 1000 live births, babies with Apgar score <7 at 5 min after birth increased from 7.4 to 9.5 per 1000 births, intrapartum cesarean sections increased from 6.4% to 9.5%, and instrumental vaginal deliveries increased from 7.8% to 10.9%. Our analyses found that the introduction of STAN was not associated with the decline in proportion of stillbirths (p =0.76) and neonatal deaths (p =0.76) or with the increase in intrapartum cesarean sections (p =0.92) and instrumental vaginal deliveries (p =0.78). However, it was associated with the increased occurrence of Apgar score <7 at 5 min (p =0.01). Conclusions There is no evidence that the introduction of STAN contributed to changes in the rates of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, intrapartum cesarean sections, or instrumental vaginal deliveries. There was an association between the introduction of STAN and a small increase in neonates with low Apgar scores.
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spelling doaj-art-918ad431ec9e4df08611b2f99e5f43e62025-08-20T03:30:53ZengWileyActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica0001-63491600-04122022-07-01101780981810.1111/aogs.14347The impact of the introduction of intrapartum fetal ECG ST segment analysis. A population studyEllen Blix0Anne Eskild1Irene Skau2Jostein Grytten3Faculty of Health Sciences OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University Oslo NorwayAkershus University Hospital Lørenskog NorwayDepartment of Community Dentistry University of Oslo Oslo NorwayDepartment of Community Dentistry University of Oslo Oslo NorwayAbstract Introduction ST segment analysis (STAN) of the fetal electrocardiogram was introduced as an adjunct to cardiotocography for intrapartum fetal monitoring 30 years ago. We examined the impact of the introduction of STAN on changes in the occurrence of fetal and neonatal deaths, Apgar scores of <7 at 5 min, intrapartum cesarean sections, and instrumental vaginal deliveries while controlling for time‐ and hospital‐specific trends and maternal risk factors. Material and Methods Data were retrieved from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway from 1985 to 2014. Individual data were linked to the Education Registry and the Central Person Registry. The study sample included 1 132 022 singleton births with a gestational age of 36 weeks or beyond. Information about the year of STAN introduction was collected from every birth unit in Norway using a questionnaire. Our data structure consisted of a hospital‐year panel. We applied a linear probability model with hospital‐fixed effects and with adjustment for potentially confounding factors. The prevalence of the outcomes before and after the introduction of STAN were compared within each birth unit. Results In total, 23 birth units, representing 76% of all births in Norway, had introduced the STAN technology. During the study period, stillbirths declined from 2.6 to 1.9 per 1000 births, neonatal deaths declined from 1.7 to 0.7 per 1000 live births, babies with Apgar score <7 at 5 min after birth increased from 7.4 to 9.5 per 1000 births, intrapartum cesarean sections increased from 6.4% to 9.5%, and instrumental vaginal deliveries increased from 7.8% to 10.9%. Our analyses found that the introduction of STAN was not associated with the decline in proportion of stillbirths (p =0.76) and neonatal deaths (p =0.76) or with the increase in intrapartum cesarean sections (p =0.92) and instrumental vaginal deliveries (p =0.78). However, it was associated with the increased occurrence of Apgar score <7 at 5 min (p =0.01). Conclusions There is no evidence that the introduction of STAN contributed to changes in the rates of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, intrapartum cesarean sections, or instrumental vaginal deliveries. There was an association between the introduction of STAN and a small increase in neonates with low Apgar scores.https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14347Apgar scoreCTGfetal deathfetal electrocardiogramintrapartum fetal monitoringnational registry study
spellingShingle Ellen Blix
Anne Eskild
Irene Skau
Jostein Grytten
The impact of the introduction of intrapartum fetal ECG ST segment analysis. A population study
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Apgar score
CTG
fetal death
fetal electrocardiogram
intrapartum fetal monitoring
national registry study
title The impact of the introduction of intrapartum fetal ECG ST segment analysis. A population study
title_full The impact of the introduction of intrapartum fetal ECG ST segment analysis. A population study
title_fullStr The impact of the introduction of intrapartum fetal ECG ST segment analysis. A population study
title_full_unstemmed The impact of the introduction of intrapartum fetal ECG ST segment analysis. A population study
title_short The impact of the introduction of intrapartum fetal ECG ST segment analysis. A population study
title_sort impact of the introduction of intrapartum fetal ecg st segment analysis a population study
topic Apgar score
CTG
fetal death
fetal electrocardiogram
intrapartum fetal monitoring
national registry study
url https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14347
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