Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring – 2023
The document is a lecture note on “Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring” by Professor Lanka Dasanayake, who is a Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at the University of Ruhuna in Galle, Sri Lanka. The lecture covers the importance of timely detection of fetal hypoxia during labor and the methods for intrapartum fetal monitoring. It discusses the objectives of fetal monitoring, including intermittent auscultation, electronic fetal heart monitoring (CEFM), fetal blood sampling (FBS), fetal lactate testing, fetal pulse oximetry, and ST waveform analysis (STAN). The document also outlines the indications for continuous cardiotocography (CTG) during labor and provides detailed interpretations of CTG patterns, including normal, suspicious, and pathological findings. Additionally, it covers the interpretation of fetal blood sampling results and the use of fetal lactate levels as a diagnostic tool. The lecture emphasizes the importance of understanding the physiology of fetal oxygenation, fetal response to hypoxia, and the principles of electronic fetal monitoring. It also discusses the combined continuous fetal monitoring with ST-analysis (STAN) and fetal pulse oximetry, providing evidence from meta-analyses on their effectiveness. The document includes references and past paper questions related to the topic.
