Document Detail


Power spectral analysis of fetal heart rate.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  7813133     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
This chapter examines the role of power spectral analysis (PSA) in elucidation of the physiological control mechanisms of fetal heart rate and as a potential indicator of fetal well-being. The importance of fetal heart rate variability (FHRV) as an indicator of fetal oxygenation is discussed, and the limitations in the current methods of measurement of FHRV are highlighted. Evidence is presented for the paramount influence of the autonomic nervous system in the control of heart rate variability. The basic proposition underlying spectral analysis is that the two autonomic branches influence heart rate in a frequency-dependent way, and their differential effects can be determined by PSA which breaks down the heart rate trace into its component frequencies. The application of PSA to heart rate variability data is an established tool in cardiology, and the published literature related to its use in the adult, neonate and fetus is reviewed. The power spectrum is sensitive to the activity state of the fetus, particularly fetal breathing movements, which have a variable effect on short- and long-term FHRV. There are a variety of mathematical approaches to the construction of power spectra, and a particular method of data acquisition and analysis is presented together with some theoretical background. Recent experimental evidence indicates a role for PSA as an indicator of fetal activity state, and the effect of hypoxia on the spectrum of the fetus in labour is discussed. There are some problems with the technique of PSA, particularly in regard to accepted definitions and methods of analysis. It is a powerful non-invasive tool in the elucidation of fetal cardiac control, but its value in the detection of the compromised fetus has yet to be tested in a clinical trial.
Authors:
L W Oppenheimer; R M Lewinsky
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Baillière's clinical obstetrics and gynaecology     Volume:  8     ISSN:  0950-3552     ISO Abbreviation:  Baillieres Clin Obstet Gynaecol     Publication Date:  1994 Sep 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1995-02-09     Completed Date:  1995-02-09     Revised Date:  2006-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8710782     Medline TA:  Baillieres Clin Obstet Gynaecol     Country:  ENGLAND    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  643-61     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Division of Perinatology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa General Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adult
Bias (Epidemiology)
Cardiotocography*
Female
Fetal Distress / diagnosis*,  epidemiology
Heart Rate, Fetal*
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Labor, Obstetric
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology
Prenatal Care
Probability
Reproducibility of Results
Sensitivity and Specificity
Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted*
Stochastic Processes

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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