Neonatal Outcomes with Continuous Intrapartum Electronic Fetal Monitoring vs. Intermittent Auscultation

This study was undertaken to observe how the EFM alters the neonatal outcome as compared to IA. The present study was conducted in Maheshwari Children‟s Hospital and associated obstetric centers, Bathinda, India. This study included 990 women, pregnant with single live fetus, who were monitored during the labour either by intermittent auscultation (IA) or electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) by cardiotocography (CTG). All the women were examined clinically for onset of labour and fetal well being on admission. Every third pregnant women admitted in labour was assigned to group monitored by EFM and remaining were monitored by IA. There were no differences between the groups in terms of maternal age, gravidity, parity, gestational age, and number of antepartum high-risk factors. Out of 990 pregnant women, who qualified for the study, 660 were in IA group and 330 were in EFM group. No. of intrapartum related deaths in IA group were 13.64 per 1000 as compared to 9.09 per 1000 in EFM group. The difference was statistically non significant (p value > 0.05). As compared to IA, EFM during labour results in decreased incidence of development of HIE Stage II. However it does not alter the incidence of development of total HIE cases, and HIE stage I & III.