The significance of fetal heart rate reactivity with a positive oxytocin challenge test
Braly, P.; Freeman, R.K.
Obstetrics and Gynecology 50(6): 689-693
1977
ISSN/ISBN: 0029-7844 PMID: 927760 Document Number: 110726
Reviewed were 27 patients with positive OCT signs of fetal distress and 8 (30%) tolerated labor without late decelerations. These patients were evaluated for signs of fetal reactivity (acceleration of the FHR associated with fetal movement or contractions) during the OCT. Those with a reactive pattern during the OCT (15 patients) uniformly had a good fetal outcome (unless there was birth trauma or premature delivery), but 8 of these 15 patients showed fetal distress during monitored labor. If the positive OCT was associated with a nonreactive baseline FHR recording, a trial of labor uniformly resulted in FHR signs of fetal distress. A patient with a nonreactive positive OCT was unlikely to tolerate subsequent labor without fetal distress.