Cardiotocography is a medical test that records fetal heartbeat and uterine contractions during pregnancy using a cardiotocograph or electronic fetal monitor. It was developed in the 1940s and became a standard tool in delivery rooms. The test can be conducted internally or externally and is often used to detect fetal distress. The data can be stored on computers and accessed remotely. It is related to other fetal testing procedures such as biophysical profiles and fetal stethoscopes.
Cardiotocography is a type of medical test conducted during pregnancy that records the fetal heartbeat and uterine contractions. Using a technological device called a cardiotocograph or electronic fetal monitor (EFM), this obstetrical test is commonly performed during the third trimester of pregnancy. When a cardiotocograph is used during labor, it is called a stress test.
Dr. Orvan Hess began preliminary research into the development of cardiotocography as early as the 1930s. In the late 1940s, Hess joined forces with Dr. Edward Hon to further his attempts to develop a form of technology that could record fetal heart signals. In 1957, the two doctors used the first cardiotocograph to monitor a baby’s heartbeat in utero. The testing processes were refined throughout the 1960s and soon became a standard tool used in delivery rooms around the world.
Cardiotocography consists of two separate medical tests conducted simultaneously: one records the heart rate of the fetus – which is called a non-stress test if the mother is not in labor – while the other records the mother’s uterine contractions. Tests can be conducted with internal or external methods. In internal tests, a catheter is placed in the uterus after a specific amount of dilatation has occurred. With external testing, a pair of sensory nodes are attached to the mother’s stomach. Of the two, internal measurement is considered the more accurate option.
Advances in technology have made it possible to store cardiotocography data on computers. In many cases, the data is accessed via computer networks, which allow for remote observation of the mother and child. The cardiotocography readings could also be printed and archived in the mother’s medical record.
Cardiotocography is closely related to other fetal testing procedures. A biophysical profile is performed when a non-stress test indicates possible problems. The biophysical profile includes tests of fetal breathing, movement, and tone, as well as amniotic fluid volume. Another diagnostic tool is a fetal stethoscope, which is used to monitor the fetal heartbeat and is often used as a preliminary tool before cardiotocography processes are prescribed.
Sometimes referred to by the acronym CTG, cardiotocography can alert medical professionals to the possibility of fetal distress. Using this technology, doctors and nurses can better assess the condition of the fetus and can keep an eye out for any changes in the heartbeat that could signal complications. They can also measure the time between contractions to better determine delivery time.
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