Continuous electronic heart rate monitoring for fetal assessment during labour

With the exception of reduction in the incidence of neonatal seizures, there were no short- or long-term benefits of routine continuous electronic fetal monitoring. The use of electronic fetal monitoring was associated with significant increases in the rates of caesarean section and assisted vaginal delivery.

RHL Commentary by Edgard Cobo

EVIDENCE SUMMARY

The Cochrane Review compared the effect on newborn and maternal outcomes of routine electronic monitoring of fetal heart rate (EFM) and of the use of intermittent auscultation during labour. Data from nine trials involving more than 18 000 women indicated that except for helping to reduce neonatal seizures there are no other short- or long-term benefits of EFM. The use of EFM was associated with significant increases in the use of caesarean section and assisted vaginal delivery.

All published randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing the efficacy and safety of EFM compared and intermittent auscultation were included and analysed using strict inclusion criteria.

The full RHL commentary also includes sections on:

Relevance
- Magnitude of the problem
- Feasibility of the intervention
- Applicability of the results of the Cochrane Review
- Implementation of the intervention
- Research
References

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This document should be cited as: Edgard Cobo. Continuous electronic heart rate monitoring for fetal assessment during labour: RHL commentary (last revised: 1 December 2001). The WHO Reproductive Health Library, No 9, Update Software Ltd, Oxford, 2006. www.rhlibrary.com