Co-existence pf Reactive NST and Variable Decelerations Of FHR

Author Information

Parulekar SV

(Professor and Head, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Seth G S Medical College & K E M Hospital, Mumbai, India.)

Abstract

Assessment of fetal heart rate has been considered to be the gold standard of assessment of fetal well being. It was by intermittent auscultation in the past. With the advent of electronic fetal heart rate and fetal electrocardiogram monitoring, the science has made a great advance. Analysis of the baseline fetal heart rate and changes in fetal heart rate with fetal movements and uterine contractions have been used extensively to check fetal well being. Co-existence of good and bad patterns creates a diagnostic dilemma. A case of co-existence of a reactive nonstress test and variable decelerations is presented.

Introduction

Fetal well being is conventionally evaluated by assessment of fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns. A nonstress test (NST) is a noninvasive and commonest cardiotocographic method of assessment of fetal well being  antenatally. FHR is recorded electronically after 26-28 weeks of gestation, with the mother at physical and mental rest. The test is said to be reactive and the fetus is said to be well if there are at least two FHR accelerations of at least 15 beats per minute (bpm) lasting for at least 15 seconds in a 20-minute period. Variable and late FHR decelerations are suggestive of fetal compromise. When a reactive NST and FHR decelerations are found in the same FHR recording, interpretation becomes difficult. A case of co-existence of a reactive nonstress test and variable decelerations is presented.

Case Report

A 24 year old primigravida presented at term. Her due date was 4 days away. Her past medical and surgical history was not contributory. Her general and systemic examination showed normal findings. Obstetric examination showed a single intrauterine fetus of 36 weeks' size in vertex presentation. The amount of liquor was adequate. Her pelvis was adequate. Her Bishop score was 4. A nonstress test was obtained. It showed one acceleration (green arrow) with fetal movement in 20 minutes and repetitive variable decelerations (white arrows) as seen in figure 1. An ultrasonographic scan (USG) was obtained. It showed a single intrauterine fetus of 36 weeks' size in vertex presentation. Her amniotic fluid index was 6. No abnormalities of the umbilical cord were seen, such as cord presentation, loops around the fetus or true knots. Her hematological and biochemical tests for fitness for anesthesia showed normal results. Tests for syphilis, HIV, hepatitis B and C were negative. In view of mild fetal growth restriction and presence of  repetitive variable decelerations, a No. 16 Foley's catheter was inserted into the cervix, its fully inflated balloon placed just above the internal os, in order to ripen the cervix for induction of labor. The catheter was expelled spontaneously after 6 hours. The cervix was 3 cm dilated and 30% effaced at that time. Artificial low rupture of membranes was done. The amniotic fluid was scanty and thickly meconium stained. Fetal cardiotocography showed repetitive variable decelerations and no acceleration of FHR. An emergency cesarean section was done. A male child weighing 2300 g was born, with an Apgar score of 8/10 at one minute and 9/10 at 5 minutes. The mother made an uneventful recovery postoperatively. Mother and baby were well at the time of discharge after 5 days, and at first follow-up after two weeks.

Figure 1. FHR monitoring strip. It shows one acceleration of FHR (green arrow) with fetal movement and repetitive variable decelerations (white arrows).

Discussion

Accelerations of FHR are often associated with fetal movements, due to stimulation of peripheral proprioceptors, increased release of catecholamines and sympathetic stimulation of the fetal heart. Spontaneous accelerations of FHR are also seen in labor. Presence of FHR accelerations is believed to indicate an absence of fetal hypoxia and fetal metabolic acidosis.[1-3]  A variable deceleration is due to transient compression of the umbilical cord which may be due to umbilical cord presentation or prolapse, tight loops of cord around the fetal neck, true knots in the umbilical cord, or oligo- or anhydramnios.[4,5]  There is an initial acceleration due to occlusion of the umbilical vein, which decreases fetal venous return and triggers a baroreceptor-mediated reflex. Continued compression causes an occlusion of the umbilical arteries, which causes, through action on baroreceptors, an increase in parasympathetic activity and a decrease in FHR by increasing fetal peripheral resistance and blood pressure. An acceleration follows due to a decrease in umbilical arterial compression as compression of the umbilical cord is relieved.

Co-existence of FHR accelerations and variable decelerations is not clear. The rate of operative delivery is increased in the patients who show such a pattern of FHR.[6-11] While the FHR acceleration indicates that the fetal autonomic system is responding to proprioceptive stimulation and fetal heart is capable for responding to resultant sympathetic stimulation, variable deceleration of FHR indicates that there is umbilical cord compression. Such compression over a prolonged period compromises fetal well being and can result in fetal death. It is not clear when FHR accelerations would disappear in this process. But it is likely to be a late process, as hypoxia has to be severe enough to cause such a loss of accelerations, while hypoxia due to umbilical cord compression is intermittent, and the fetus is well in between such decelerations. The presence of umbilical cord copmression which is not treatable is an indication for emergency delivery of the fetus to avoid further compromise of its well being. False positive variable decelerations of FHR do not occur. Thus their presence should be considered an ominous sign, the gravity of which cannot be negated by the presence of FHR accelerations. In the case presnted, additional evidence of meconium in the amniotic fluid was the deciding factor for immediate delivery of the fetus.

Acknowledgment

I thank Dr. Kaviya .S for providing the image of fetal heart rate tracing.

References

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Citation

Parulekar SV. Co-existence pf Reactive NST and Variable Decelerations Of FHR. JPGO. 2018 Vol 5 No. 7. Available from: http://www.jpgo.org/2018/07/co-existence-pf-reactive-nst-and.html