Combined analysis of fetal electrocardiogram and systolic time intervals

Cardiotocography as a simultaneous recording of fetal heart rate (FHR) and uterine contraction activity is a basic method of evaluation of fetal condition. Correct variability of the fetal heart rate is an indirect sign of adequate oxygenation of a fetus. Unfortunately, the reverse case is not always true, signs suggesting pathological changes can also appear in recording when the fetal is not at risk. The cardiotocography shall then be recognized as a more screening than diagnostic method. It will be interesting to develop a non-invasive method being complementary to routine cardiotocography. This method should allow the adequate prediction of a bad neonatal outcome when the test is abnormal. The paper shows the system that makes possible cardiotocograms analysis in parallel with the assessment of additional parameters determined from comparison of mechanical and electrical fetal heart activity signals. The studies are aimed at development of set of parameters that are high correlated with clinical outcome.