Is fetal pulse oximetry a waste of time? Riveting results from an important trial presented at the 26th annual SMFM meeting in Miami in February suggest just that?and seemingly shatter the whole premise behind fetal pulse oximetry: that it might either improve perinatal outcome or lower cesarean delivery rates.
Is fetal pulse oximetry a waste of time? Riveting results from an important trial presented at the 26th annual SMFM meeting in Miami in February suggest just that-and seemingly shatter the whole premise behind fetal pulse oximetry: that it might either improve perinatal outcome or lower cesarean delivery rates.
The practice of using fetal oximetry to measure fetal oxygen saturation during labor was already on pretty shaky ground when National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) MFMU Network researchers decided it was time to assess the device's effectiveness in a large, prospective well-designed trial. After all, in the wake of the FDA's conditional approval of the oximetry device in May 2000, the dystocia rate had unexpectedly and inexplicably doubled, pointed out Bethesda investigator, S. L. Bloom. Moreover, in a subsequent ACOG Committee Opinion, the organization had refused to endorse the new technology.
Aiming to assess the technology in "a real-world setting," the researchers set out to measure whether a clinician's awareness of fetal oxygen saturation values used in conjunction with continuous electronic fetal monitoring is associated with the condition of the newborn or linked to a significant change in the overall cesarean delivery rate (that includes C/S performed specifically for dystocia and nonreassuring fetal heart rate).
Bloom SL for the NICHD MFMU Network, Bethesda, Maryland. The MFMU Network randomized trial of fetal pulse oximetry. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2005;193(6 suppl):S2. (Abstract 1)
Link between prenatal air pollution and reduced lung function in offspring reported
July 25th 2024Higher prenatal exposure to PM2.5 pollution is associated with reduced lung volume and airflow limitation in children, highlighting the critical impact of air pollution on in utero lung development.
Read More
Cut costs observed from out-of-home care in children with prenatal substance exposure
July 24th 2024A recent study reveals that while children exposed to maternal substance use face higher hospital costs up to age 20 years, out-of-home care significantly mitigates this financial burden.
Read More
Global progress in neonatal tetanus elimination from 2000 to 2022
July 18th 2024Incorporating maternal and neonatal tetanus elimination strategies into national immunization activities is crucial for sustaining elimination and reducing neonatal mortality worldwide, as highlighted by the latest CDC report.
Read More
PreTRM test shows efficacy in reducing severe neonatal morbidity and mortality
July 18th 2024The PreTRM test, a blood-based biomarker test for predicting preterm birth risk, has demonstrated significant efficacy in lowering severe neonatal morbidity and mortality, as reported by Sera Prognostics Inc.
Read More