Cardiotocography versus intermittent auscultation of fetal heart on admission to labour ward for assessment of fetal wellbeing
Abstract
Background
The admission cardiotocograph (CTG) is a commonly used screening test consisting of a short (usually 20 minutes) recording of the fetal heart rate (FHR) and uterine activity performed on the mother's admission to the labour ward.
Objectives
To compare the effects of admission CTG with intermittent auscultation of the FHR on maternal and infant outcomes for pregnant women without risk factors on their admission to the labour ward.
Search methods
We searched the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group's Trials Register (17 May 2011) (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2011 Issue 2 of 4), MEDLINE (1966 to 17 May 2011), CINAHL (1982 to 17 May 2011), Dissertation Abstracts (1980 to 17 May 2011) and the reference list of retrieved papers.
Selection criteria
All randomised and quasi‐randomised trials comparing admission CTG with intermittent auscultation of the FHR for pregnant women between 37 and 42 completed weeks of pregnancy and considered to be at low risk of intrapartum fetal hypoxia and of developing complications during labour.
Data collection and analysis
Two authors independently assessed trial eligibility and quality, and extracted data. Data were checked for accuracy.
Main results
We included four trials involving more than 13,000 women. All four studies included women in labour. Overall, the studies were at low risk of bias. Although not statistically significant using a strict P < 0.05 criterion, data are consistent with women allocated to admission CTG having, on average, a higher probability of an increase in incidence of caesarean section than women allocated to intermittent auscultation (risk ratio (RR) 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00 to 1.44, four trials, 11,338 women, T² = 0.00, I² = 0%). There was no significant difference in the average treatment effect across included trials between women allocated to admission CTG and women allocated to intermittent auscultation in instrumental vaginal birth (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.27, four trials, 11,338 women, T² = 0.01, I² = 38%) and fetal and neonatal deaths (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.30 to 3.47, four trials, 11339 infants, T² = 0.00, I² = 0%).
Women allocated to admission CTG had, on average, significantly higher rates of continuous electronic fetal monitoring during labour (RR 1.30, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.48, three trials, 10,753 women, T² = 0.01, I² = 79%) and fetal blood sampling (RR 1.28, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.45, three trials, 10,757 women, T² = 0.00, I² = 0%) than women allocated to intermittent auscultation. There were no differences between groups in other secondary outcome measures.
Authors' conclusions
Contrary to continued use in some clinical areas, we found no evidence of benefit for the use of the admission cardiotocograph (CTG) for low‐risk women on admission in labour.
We found no evidence of benefit for the use of the admission CTG for low‐risk women on admission in labour. Furthermore, the probability is that admission CTG increases the caesarean section rate by approximately 20%. The data lacked power to detect possible important differences in perinatal mortality. However, it is unlikely that any trial, or meta‐analysis, will be adequately powered to detect such differences. The findings of this review support recommendations that the admission CTG not be used for women who are low risk on admission in labour. Women should be informed that admission CTG is likely associated with an increase in the incidence of caesarean section without evidence of benefit.
PICOs
Plain language summary
Comparing electronic monitoring of the baby's heartbeat on a woman's admission in labour using cardiotocography (CTG) with intermittent monitoring
Monitoring of the fetal heart rate (FHR) is one of the most common methods for checking a baby's wellbeing. The two most common ways of monitoring the FHR are by listening to the heart beat using a fetal stethoscope, Pinard (special trumpet shaped device), handheld Doppler ultrasound device (this is known as intermittent auscultation) or by an electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) machine that produces a paper printout of the baby’s heart rate and the mother’s contractions, called a cardiotocograph (CTG). The admission CTG is a commonly used test consisting of a short, usually 20 minute, recording of the FHR and uterine activity that is performed when the mother is admitted to the labour ward with signs of labour. The admission CTG was introduced to try and identify those babies who were at greatest risk of becoming compromised with a lack of oxygen during labour. These babies could be monitored more intensively by continuous electronic fetal monitoring, or they may benefit from an immediate intervention such as being delivered by caesarean section.
This review compared the admission CTG with intermittent auscultation of the FHR performed on the mother's admission to the labour ward. We included four randomised controlled trials involving more than 13,000 women with low‐risk pregnancies in the review. Women allocated to admission CTG were more likely to have a caesarean section than women allocated to intermittent auscultation. There was no difference in the number of instrumental vaginal births or in the number of babies who died during or shortly after labour between women allocated to admission CTG and women allocated to intermittent auscultation. Admission CTG was associated with a significant increase in the use of continuous electronic fetal monitoring (with an electrode placed on the baby’s scalp) and fetal blood sampling (a small blood sample taken from a baby's scalp) during labour. There were no differences in other outcomes measured such as artificial rupture of the membranes, augmentation of labour or use of an epidural.
