Usefulness of cardiotocography in expulsion period

Abstract: When an expulsion-period cardiotocographic record is examined, the most important factors, to be carefully controlled, are foetal cardiac frequency, its irregularities, the presence of decelerations and, above all, the appearance of final bradycardia. The Authors have studied 196 cardiotocographic records taken in expulsion period. Apart from the above mentioned factors, they looked for correlations between pathological pictures and parity, length of expulsion period and Apgar score. Satisfactory results lead them to conclude that cardiotocography is indispensable also in expulsion period.