Fetal Heart Rate Testing: Reduced Variability

Published on 06/06/2015 by admin

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Last modified 06/06/2015

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Chapter 191 Fetal Heart Rate Testing: Reduced Variability

INTRODUCTION

Description: Reduced variability is characterized by a reduction in the normal variation in heart rate from beat to beat that may signal fetal stress.

Prevalence: Reduced variability is a common finding when the fetal status is compromised. It also occurs when the fetus is sleeping.

Predominant Age: Reproductive.

Genetics: No genetic pattern.

ETIOLOGY AND PATHOGENESIS

Causes: Fetal hypoxia with neurologic depression (when decelerations are absent, reduced variability is unlikely to result from hypoxia); extreme prematurity; maternal sedation; fetal sleep.

Risk Factors: Prematurity, maternal sedation.

CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Signs and Symptoms

• Reduction in the variation of heart rate to below 3 to 5 beats per minute (most commonly associated with periodic decelerations). This must be differentiated from the sinusoidal patterns of variations that have a smooth sine-wave–like pattern of regular frequency and amplitude.

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