High Risk Pregnancy Unit – Sótero del Río Hospital, Santiago, ChileDirector, Center for Research and Innovation in Maternal-Fetal Medicine (CIMAF)Associate Professor, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, ChileMaternal-Fetal Medicine specialist, Perinatology Research Branch, Wayne State University, Detroit, USAObstetrics and Gynecology, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, ChilePresident, Chilean Society of Obstetrics and GynecologyAssociate Professor and Chief, Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, ChileMaternal-Fetal Medicine specialist, Università de Milano, Milan, ItalyObstetrics and Gynecology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, ChileSafe Motherhood and Chilbirth Committee deputy for Latin America, FIGODepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Universidad ICESI, Cali, ColombCritical Medicine and Intensive Care specialist, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia y University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USAHigh Complexity Unit for Obstetrics, Fundación Valle del Lili, Cali, ColombiaPhD Clinical Epidemiology, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, ChileMaternal-Fetal Medicine, Medicina Fetal S.A.S, Clínica Colsanitas, Medellín, ColombiaObstetrics and Gynecology, Universidad del Valle, Cali, ColombUniversidad del Rosario, Bogotá, ColombiaMaternal-Fetal Medicine and Fetal Surgery specialist, Fetal Medicine Foundation, King's College Hospital, London, United KingdomUniversidad CES, Medellín, ColombiaClinical Epidemiologist, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, ColombiaObstetrics and Gynecology, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia

INTRODUCTION

One of the most important causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality are the fetal complications related to labourlabor and birth. Throughout history, several methods have been described and used for the assessment of fetal well-being in order to predict and avoid these complications. Since the electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) for fetal heart rate (FHR) was introduced for the first time in 1958 at Yale University,¹ this has been the most used method for intrapartum fetal surveillance around the world.²

This chapter will briefly describe the pathophysiology of the nonreassuring fetal status, the method for the interpretation of fetal monitoring to achieve its diagnosis, and the strategies to prevent perinatal-associated morbidity and mortality, focusing oin the actions aimed towards the recovery of fetal well-being (intrauterine fetal resuscitation).

PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF THE NONREASSURING FETAL STATUS

A normal placental function is key for an adequate fetal oxygenation. The interactions between the uterus, placenta and the fetusfoetus have special characteristics that enhance this important function, working as protective mechanisms for fetal hypoxia. Some of them are as follows:

• The uteroplacental unit has spiral arteries that lack self-regulation capacity (vasoconstriction and vasodilation), allowing a constant and adequate blood- flow volume to the intervillous space.
• The oOxygen (O₂) and the carbon dioxide (CO₂) easily pass the membranes by simple diffusion, based on the gradient formed due to the normally low concentrations of O₂ and high concentrations of CO₂ of the fetusfoetus compared to the adult.
• The fetal hemoglobin has a greater carrying capacity and affinity for O₂, favoring the passage of oxygen from maternal to fetal circulation.
• The fetal circulatory pattern allows a greater flow and oxygen supply to key organs (brain, heart, and adrenal), has a higher cardiac frequency and output, and also more capillaries per unit of tissue than the adults.

The fetusfoetus is capable of maintaining the aerobic metabolism despite the transitory decreases of uterine blood flow that occurs in some circumstances. Indeed, the increase of frequency and/or intensity of uterine contractions, umbilical cord compression, maternal hypotension, compression of the aorto-cava by the uterus during supine position, or the use of drugs such as sympathomimetics can be associated to an important decrease of placental blood flow or reduction of the uteroplacental reserve. In some of these situations, the described protective mechanisms may fail and the fetoplacental unit could not be capable of maintaining the proper fetal pO₂, changing from aerobic to an anaerobic metabolism with the subsequent production of lactic acid and the decrease of pH that produces changes in the FHR mediated by chemoreceptors that can be interpreted in the EFM tracing.

This is of vital importance when it comes to labor. During this process, the fetusfoetus is compressed along the birth canal during several hours, a period where the fetal skull receives considerable pressure and the fetusfoetus is partially deprived of oxygen. A reduction in the oxygen supply can be classified as follows: (1) hypoxemia, where there is a reduction in the oxygen supply of the fetal blood, but without compromising the cellular and organ functions; (2) hypoxia, where there is a reduction of the oxygen concentrations that conditions the development of an anaerobic metabolism in fetal peripheral tissues; and (3) asphyxia, where hypoxia extends to vital organs leading to a secondary metabolic acidosis.³

During labor, a decrease of placental blood flow and an increase in fetal concentrations of CO₂ and bicarbonate tends to occur, leading to fetal hypercapnia. The conditions abovementioned above lead to a respiratory acidosis as a phenomenon of initial appearance; however, if hypoxia is sustained over time, this will change to a fetal anaerobic metabolism, leading to inadequate lactate productions. The accumulation of lactate is associated withto a depletion of the buffer system, originating a failure of the sodium-potassium ATPase pump. This develops a disruption in the ion exchange of the cell membrane, activating a chain of reactions that lead to cellular and organic fetal death.³

The blood coming from the placenta goes through the umbilical vein towards thde ductus venosus and the right atrium, from there to the left atrium through the foramen ovale, and finally to the left ventricle. At this point, blood content is ejected towards the aortic arch, neck and cranial vessels, and the descending aorta. The fetal heart is rich in baroreceptors and volume receptors capable of tracking pressure or blood volume changes from the mother. The aortic arch and the carotid bodies contain chemoreceptors that monitor oxygen content of the fetal blood. Therefore, the fetusfoetus is capable of producing a series of cardiovascular responses towards hypoxia when necessary.⁴ These changes occur because the fetal heart rate is regulated by the autonomous nervous system. Hypoxia activates both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems, conditioning physiological changes later evident in the EFM tracing.

The adrenal sympathetic system involves the sympathetic nerves and the adrenal medulla. Compared to the adult, fetal circulatory catecholamines that come from the adrenal glands dominate the nervous effects. Therefore, alpha-adrenergic receptors regulate the degree of constriction in the peripheral vessels, while the beta-adrenergic receptors modify the cardiac function and various metabolic reactions such as glycolysis and lactate formation. Thus, through a hypoxic phenomenon with associated adrenal compromise, peripheral mechanisms that perpetuate cellular anaerobic production and that produce deterioration in the maintaining mechanisms of the peripheral vascular tone are responsible for fetal hypotension and bradycardia.³

In addition, the parasympathetic system supplies to the sinoatrial and atrioventricular nodes by stimulating the vagus nerve. Thus, the acetylcholine stimulus through this via can produce changes in the FHR, which is achieved through chemoreceptors located in the aortic and carotid arteries. These chemoreceptors detect changes in the circulating pO₂, just as many other receptors detect variations in the pCO₂ and hydrogen ions' concentrations in the medulla oblongata. Therefore, in the context of a hypoxic insult, the fetusfoetus reduces the oxygen supply to peripheral tissues, favoring parasympathetic stimuli towards the heart that translate into a non-reassuring cardiotocographic tracing.⁵

FETAL MONITORING

The purpose of FHR monitoring is to evaluate fetal oxygenation. Since FHR is influenced by chemoreceptors and baroreceptors, as well as the fetal autonomous nervous system (interaction between the sympathetic and the parasympathetic) and the cerebral cortex, decreased O₂ concentrations in this important brain area, along with pH and blood pressure changes of the fetusfoetus, may cause abnormalities in different parameters of the FHR monitoring (baseline, variability, as well as presence or absence of accelerations and decelerations). In addition, some conditions or risk factors may have an impact in the interpretation of the EFM, such as maternal or fetal pathologies related to pregnancy, stage and progression of labor, use of some drugs, etc.

The intrapartum EFM has a low sensitivity but high specificity. In other words, it is a good test to identify non-hypoxic fetuses but has a low ability to recognize hypoxic fetuses. The positive predictive value of the FHR tracing for predicting cerebral palsy (CP) is only 0.14%. This means that among 1000 fetuses with a non-reassuring FHR monitoring, only one or two will develop CP. On the other hand, inter-observer variation, a false positive rate of up to 60%,^6,7 and interpretation errors due to the absence of standardized guidelines, have been indicated as the main problems in intrapartum EFM failure to improve perinatal outcome.⁸

Due to the high intra- and inter-observer variability in the interpretation of EFM, the National Institute of Health of the United States (NIH), alongside with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine (SMFM), published a consensus in 2008⁹ in order to review and update the definitions of the pattern classification of the FHR.

In this consensus, which has been widely adopted, the following definitions for the EFM interpretation were established (Table 1).:

A moderate variability of the FHR is significantly associated (98%) with an umbilical pH >7.15 or an Apgar score >7 at 5 minutes. In contrast, minimal or undetectable variability in the presence of variable or late decelerations is the most consistent predictor of neonatal acidemia, although the association is only approximately 25%. Finally, there is a positive relationship between the degree of acidemia and the depth of decelerations or fetal bradycardia.¹⁰

CLASSIFICATION OF THE FETAL HEART RATE TRACING

There are several interpretation systems of the FHR tracing used worldwide.^11,12,13 In 2008, the NIH, ACOG, and the SMFM, agreed on a new classification of FHR, which established three categories: I, II, and III.^9,14

• Category I: it is considered normal or reassuring, and it is strongly predictive of a normal fetal acid-base status.
• Category II: this type of tracing is not predictive of an abnormal fetal acid-base status, but still do not have enough evidence to be classified as cCategory I or III.
• Category III: they are considered non-reassuring and are associated more frequently to the abnormal fetal base acid status.

This classification provides the concepts needed for decision making (Table 2). It is important to note that the FHR interpretation may vary over time during birth and, therefore, the tracing provides an estimate of the fetal acid-base status at the time of observation.

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) did the same in 2015, after publishing an update of its intrapartum EFM interpretation guide.¹⁵ Using the same basic elements of interpretation, this guide also classifies fetal monitoring into three types: normal, suspected, and pathological (Table 3), considered easier for interpretation than other guidelines.¹⁶ Category I or normal monitoring confirms fetal well-being, is a powerful predictor of normal fetal acid-base status, and does not require any specific intervention. Category II or suspicious monitoring corresponds to approximately 80% of intrapartum monitoring. In this case, the risk of fetal hypoxemia/acidemia is between 10–30%, which is a poor predictor of fetal acid-base status abnormality. Finally, a category III or pathological monitoring is a strong predictor of an abnormal fetal acid-base status at the time of assessment. It is estimated that, in this scenario, more than 50% of fetuses will have hypoxemia/acidemia.¹⁷

MANAGEMENT OF FETAL MONITORING TRACES

A normal tracing must be managed as established by the routine follow-up of patients in labor. The recommendation for maternal surveillance with a normal FHR monitoring determined at the beginning of labor depends on the clinical state and the classification of the maternal and fetal risks. During the first phase of labor, the EFM tracing must be evaluated every 30 minutes, and every 15 minutes during the second phase of labor.^18,19

Some of the suspicious tracings and all of the pathological tracings are considered non-reassuring fetal states. Identification of the causes of a non-reassuring fetal state is key to determine if those causes can be modified or not. For example, fetal sleep cycles are associated to a physiological decrease of the variability, resulting in a suspicious tracing that can be easily reverted to a normal tracing with fetal vibroacoustic stimulation.

There are reversible causes that can be associated to a suspicious tracing, such as maternal hypotension, tachysystole, or cord compression by oligohydramnios; these can be corrected with certain intrauterine resuscitation maneuvers that will be described below. When irreversible causes are identified in normal or suspicious tracings such as a cord prolapse, placental abruption, or uterine rupture, the most appropriate management is the immediate and safest delivery of the fetusfoetus.

Suspicious tracings require assessment, continuous surveillance, and initiation of intrauterine resuscitation maneuvers in cases where a subsequent re-evaluation is indicated. Given the wide spectrum of abnormal patterns of FHR in suspicious tracings, the presence of accelerations (spontaneous or digitally stimulated) or the presence of moderate variability can be highly suggestive of a normal fetal acid-base status, leading to continuous surveillance and a more conservative management.¹⁸ When there are no accelerations or the variability in the baseline is minimal or absent, a suspicious FHR monitoring will require the assessment of the cause and the use of intrauterine resuscitation maneuvers if the cause is unknown or reversible.¹⁸

A pathological tracing is always considered abnormal and implies a high risk for fetal acidemia. The management of a pathological tracing involves the use of intrauterine resuscitation maneuvers and an expedited birth if they are ineffective. Therefore, while these maneuvers are being conducted, the operative room should be prepared for a prompt vaginal delivery or an emergency cesarean section.

During labor, there are some special situations that must be considered in order to maintain optimal recording and interpretation conditions for the intrapartum EFM. Frequent artifacts and loss of focus determine that obese patients are monitored about 10% less than normal-weight patients, a difference that may be of risk in situations of deterioration of the fetal-placental unit. This sometimes requires invasive monitoring by inserting a cephalic electrode into the fetal scalp to obtain a better-quality signal.²⁰ In relation to the interpretation of fetal monitoring, prematurity is a major problem since 60% of monitoring in premature fetuses are classified as suspicious, and 55–70% of fetuses have variable heart rate decelerations. All these elements combine to give greater complexity in the evaluation of monitoring during labor in preterm fetuses.^21,22 In addition, the use of medications such as opiates, corticosteroids, and especially magnesium sulfate (used to prevent maternal seizures in the context of preeclampsiapre-eclampsia), have an effect on the variability and accelerations that requires a differential diagnosis with the effects of hypoxia that, in some situations, may be difficult to perform.¹⁴

INTRAUTERINE FETAL RESUSCITATION

Intrauterine fetal resuscitation interventions are aimed to facilitate and improve fetal oxygenation through different mechanisms, decreasing the risk for a hypoxic state and fetal acidosis.²³ In order to understand the mechanisms proposed to achieve an effective resuscitation process, it is important to know how oxygen delivery to the placenta is determined by uterine blood flow and maternal oxygen content:

• Uterine blood flow = uterine perfusion pressure/uterine vascular resistance.
• Maternal oxygen content = (1.34 × Hb × %SatO₂) + 0.03 × pO₂.

Uterine perfusion pressure (uterine arterial pressure – uterine venous pressure) is affected during the third trimester because of compression of the abdominal aorta and inferior vena cava by the uterus. This effect appears to be more pronounced in supine position and is exacerbated if systemic hypotension is present. Uterine vascular resistance is influenced by a series of intrinsic and extrinsic vascular factors. During labor, uterine contractions may cause a temporary interruption of the blood flow to the intervillous space, causing periods of transitory fetal hypoxia. Therefore, if contractions are frequent or last for a long time, the interruption of blood flow increases and may exacerbate the fetal hypoxia and acidemia. Other intrinsic vascular factors such as blood viscosity and vascular tone may play a role in uterine vascular resistance. For example, preeclampsiapre-eclampsia is associated to an abnormal physiological transformation of the spiral arteries that increases vascular resistance by endogenous factors.^24,25,26,27 Maternal oxygen saturation improves around 2 to 3% when oxygen is administered. This effect is achieved with rather modest increases in FiO₂ (0.3% or more), since most healthy women during pregnancy and also during labor show high contents of O₂ and high SatO₂.

Fetal resuscitation maneuvers could be considered basic and specific. Basic maneuvers are the ones that should be implemented in all patients with suspicious FHR tracings since most of them will need resuscitation:

• Maternal position: most patients during labor are in a supine decubitus position, which favors compression of the aorta and inferior vena cava. The change in maternal position from supine decubitus to left (or sometimes right) aims to decompress these large vessels in order to increase the venous return to the maternal heart, improving the cardiac output and the blood flow to the placenta.²⁸ In special cases, such as a cord prolapse, the knee-to-thorax position is used.
• Hydration with intravenous crystalloids: because fetal oxygenation is highly dependent on placental perfusion, and optimal intravascular volume is required to keep it normal. It has been demonstrated that the maternal administration of 1000cc of intravenous crystalloids increases fetal oxygen saturation in about 14% in non-hypoxic fetuses vs. 10% after administration of 500cc volume.²⁹ Therefore, it is expected that the impact of maternal administration of high crystalloid volumes in hypoxic fetuses is greater. The rapid administration of 1000cc intravenous crystalloid bolus is a measure that must be applied whether there is, or no, maternal arterial hypotension and it may be contraindicated in special cases such as patients with preeclampsiapre-eclampsia or with cardiac diseases. However, this intervention is not necessarily associated to an increase in maternal blood pressure. This process allows an increase of maternal cardiac output, decreases the blood viscosity, and also acts like a temporary tocolytic effect in response to increased uterine blood flow and placental perfusion.³⁰
• Discontinuation or decrease of uterotonic agents: during induction of labor or delivery, uterotonic agents such as intravenous oxytocin or intravaginal prostaglandins are commonly used. In cases where an EFM suggests a non-reassuring fetal state with the concomitant use of uterotonic agents, with or without the development of tachysystole, the decrease of the infusion dose or discontinuation of oxytocin, the withdrawal of pessaries, or the remains of prostaglandins from the vagina (without performing any kind of cleaning) must be part of the management. In a prospective study³¹ involving 14,398 women undergoing oxytocin administration for birth induction, a decrease of oxytocin infusion velocity in certain suspicious tracings was associated to a significantly lower rate of admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (3.8% vs. 5.2%, p = 0.01) and an Apgar score lower than 7 at 1 and 5 minutes, respectively (4.9% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.01; 0.6% vs. 1.1%, p = 0.04). However, these actions do not achieve an immediate effect, allowing a reduction of only 48% of the contractions within 45 minutes.³² Therefore, for some cases, the adjuvant use of tocolytic agents is recommended as described below.
• Oxygen administration: normal fetal saturation is approximately 40% to 60%. It has been demonstrated that maternal administration of high oxygen concentrations (FiO₂ of 60% in 10–15 liters per minute) with devices such as a mask with reservoir bag, increase the oxygen saturation in hypoxic fetuses approximately from 26% to 37%.^29,33 Nevertheless, there is some concern about the possible deleterious effects of oxygen- free radicals in the fetusfoetus and the newborn secondary to a prolonged use of high oxygen concentrations.³⁴

In the past 50fifty years, various studies have looked at the effects of maternal hyperoxygenation on fetal oxygenation and well-being.³⁵ In fact, several studies have shown an increase in maternal pO₂ concentrations related to the increase of fetal SaO₂ concentrations. However, these studies have been performed in uncompromised fetuses.^36,37,38 Only few non-randomized studies with low statistical power have been performed in stressed fetuses^33,39,40,41 and have found some improvement in fetal cardiotocographic patterns. On the other hand, a systematic review published by the Cochrane Database including two studies^42,43 about prophylactic oxygen administration during labourlabor demonstrated that abnormal cord blood pH values (<7.2) were significantly more common in the prophylactic oxygenation group than in the control group (RR 3.51, 95% CI 1.34 to 9.19), with no other significant differences between the groups. The authors concluded that there is not enough evidence to support the use of prophylactic oxygen therapy during labourlabor, nor to evaluate its effectiveness for fetal distress.⁴⁴ In addition, there are controversial results regarding the effect of the oxygen administration duration, proposing its use only for short periods of time (15 to 30 minutes).³²

As previously stated, in addition to the worsening of possible fetal acidemia, another emerging concern related to the use of maternal hyperoxygenation is the deleterious effect of oxygen- free radicals in the fetusfoetus.³⁵ These types of markers have been recognized among the general population after the administration of high amounts of oxygen, as well as in fetuses with an EFR suggestive of hypoxia. In fact, it is known that oxygen- free radicals are produced physiologically at high concentrations in the presence of different maternal and fetal conditions such as preeclampsiapre-eclampsia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, fetal growth restriction, and fetal distress.³⁵ Despite what is known regarding the production of oxygen- free radicals and their maternal and fetal effect, its production after oxygen administration has not been investigated properly when trying to improve a non-reassuring fetal status. It has been proposed that most neonatal oxygen-guided resuscitation can lead to an increased neonatal morbidity and mortality by developing bronchopulmonary and retinopathy disease. However, fetal pO₂ concentrations after maternal hyperoxygenation will never reach those administered directly to the neonate.⁴⁵ Although the possibility of an abnormal fetal and/or neonatal condition related to this maternal oxygenation process has not been clearly identified, the use of high oxygen-inspired fractions in the absence of tissue hypoxia may cause some harmful effects in the mother as a result of an oxidative stress process. This condition can be characterized by mucous inflammation, hypoperfusion, and pneumonitis, as well as cerebral vasoconstriction.³⁵ Based on the abovementioned, it is important to acknowledge the use of oxygen therapy as an in utero fetal resuscitation maneuver. Currently, its use is recommended only in fetuses with signs of fetal distress, such as in pathological tracings (or category III) or suspicious tracings (category II) that show prolonged or late recurrent decelerations, variable decelerations of poor prognosis, bradycardia, or minimal or absent variability 30–60 minutes.^17,46 In comparison, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists clearly states that its use should be restricted to cases of maternal hypoxia, until further evidence is obtained.³⁵

• Tocolysis: the use of tocolytic agents must be considered in order to improve a non-reassuring FHR tracing secondary to tachysystole, although the management of a tachysystole depends of its origin. If a tachysystole is originated from spontaneous labor and there is a reassuring tracing, then no additional interventions are required. However, if it is associated to an abnormal FHR monitoring (suspicious or pathological) and there is no response to basic intrauterine resuscitation maneuvers, the use of tocolytic agents must be considered.¹⁸ On the other hand, if the tachysystole is secondary to the use of oxytocin or prostaglandins for labor induction, and it is related to a reassuring tracing, a reduction and/or discontinuation of uterotonics should be the first line of treatment. If it is related to an abnormal tracing, the use of tocolytics should be considered alongside with uterotonic discontinuation and basic fetal resuscitation maneuvers.¹⁸

The drugs most frequently used for this purpose are subcutaneous terbutaline or intravenous fenoterol. However, due to the secondary effect of this tocolytic agent, other drugs such as nitroglycerin have been introduced, demonstrating the same effect for intrauterine resuscitation of terbutaline or fenoterol, but with less maternal adverse effects.⁴⁷ An intravenous bolus of 100 to 200 mcg of nitroglycerin is used for this purpose.

• Management of maternal hypotension: in cases of documented maternal hypotension, the first step is to modify the maternal position in order to decompress the aorta and inferior vena cava to improve venous return to the heart, along with the administration of an intravenous crystalloid bolus. If the maternal systolic blood pressure remains below 100 mmHg, it is recommended to use vasopressors drugs such as phenylephrine or ephedrine to normalize the blood pressure. If hypotension is related to the use of neuraxial analgesia, it must be informed to the anesthesiologists must be informed.⁴⁸

Despite some evidence that favors the use of phenylephrine as the best option when using vasopressors in obstetrics,⁴⁹ the guidelines of the United Kingdom National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)⁵⁰ and others^51,52,53 proposed that both agents are similarly effective as vasopressors in pregnancy. The American Society of Anesthesiology indicates that, even if both are acceptable for their use, phenylephrine should be preferred since a better outcome in the fetal and neonatal acid-base status has been demonstrated in comparison to ephedrine.⁵⁴ Similarly, the Canadian guidelines⁵⁵ propose the use of phenylephrine rather than ephedrine as a first-line drug for the management of maternal hypotension.

• Amnioinfusion: the infusion of crystalloids in the amniotic cavity has been proposed in cases of non-reassuring FHR tracings with recurrent variable decelerations that suggest umbilical cord compression by oligohydramnios. Although there is limited evidence regarding an improvement of short- or long-term neonatal results, amnioinfusion has proven to decrease the recurrence of variable decelerations as well as the rate of caesareancesarean deliveries.⁵⁶

EMERGENCY CESAREAN SECTION

The acceptable period of time between the decision of an emergency cesarean section and delivery of the fetusfoetus within the framework of a pathological FHR tracing has not been established. Historically, an arbitrary standard of 30 minutes between decision of performing the cesarean section and the incision has been established;¹⁹ however, scientific evidence to support such a threshold is insufficient.

Table 4 displays a proposal of a classification for emergency cesarean section adopted from the original classification proposed by Lucas et al.⁵⁷ in 2000, which is based on the assessment of maternal and/or fetal compromise and its implication in the decision-to-birth time according to the threat to life of one or both.

NEONATAL ENCEPHALOPATHY AND UMBILICAL CORD GASES

Neonatal encephalopathy is clinically defined as the alteration of the neurological function during the first days of life of a newborn older than 35 weeks of gestational age. This abnormal neurological function is manifested by an abnormal level of consciousness or seizures, that are usually related to the difficulty to start and maintain breathing, tone depression, and reflexes, it can be secondary to a hypoxic event – acute ischemic peripartum or intrapartum.

Within the different criteria to establish the neonatal encephalopathy because we can find the fetal acidemia defines as a pH greater than 7.0 or a base deficit greater than or equal to 12 mmol/lL in a sample of cord gases sample taken from the umbilical artery at the time of birth.⁵⁸

From the above originates the importance of the practice of sampling cord gases sampling at the moment of birth in the cases in which there is an increased risk of this kind of ischemic hypoxic events such as urgent caesareancesarean section regardless of the Apgar score at birth, caesareancesarean section with general anesthesia, labor or caesareancesarean section with a depressed newborn without apparent cause, a newborn with obstetric trauma evidence, intrauterine growth restriction, chorioamnionitis, congenital malformations, or maternal comorbidity among others. The decision to take samples of cord gases samples must be taken by any of the professionals responsible for the fetal or newborn care during labor or birth (obstetrician, anesthesiologist, and neonatologist).

CONCLUSIONS

Labor and birth can be a susceptible moment for the loss of fetal well-being with the consequent detriment of neonatal results. Electronic fetal monitoring is the most used method for intrapartum fetal surveillance worldwide and, even if it has low sensitivity as a diagnostic test, it remains the primary tool for fetal evaluation. The interpretation method of the traces of fetal heart rate has evolved over time and is still far from perfect; it provides guidelines for clinical management in the cases of suspected fetal well-being loss.

PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS