ABSTRACT
The significance and management of prepartum bradycardia is not well established in
prepartum fetal assessment. The incidence of prolonged bradycardia was 3.5% (45 per
1284), defined as a decrease of ≥ 40 beats per minute of the fetal heart rate (FHR)
below the baseline for at least 2 minutes. Thirty-two maternal, fetal, and FHR tracing
characteristics were examined to study correlations between the variables, the presence
of the bradycardia, and neonatal outcome. Neonatal outcome was evaluated by dividing
the population into two groups. Group 1 consisted of infants with 1-minute Apgar scores
< 6 and NICU admissions > 24 hours. Group 2 comprised infants with 1-minute Apgar
scores > 6 and no NICU admission or < 24 hours NICU admission. IUGR was diagnosed
in 40% of the patients. Statistically significant associations were found for correlations
between Group 1 infants and IUGR (P < .05), oligohydramnios (P < .05), cesarean section rate (P < .04), and the presence of meconium (P < .01). mere were no fetal heart rate characteristics found to be significantly associated
with IUGR or neonatal outcome. The data do not support the need for immediate delivery
in patients with prolonged prepartum bradycardia, but its presence does warrant a
workup for intrauterine growth retardation.
