Is Fetal Monitoring a Useful Predictor of CP?

Electronic fetal monitoring is now often used routinely. This population-based study explored its value and its weaknesses in predicting cerebral palsy.

Investigators identified 95 singleton infants weighing at least 2500 g, born in four California counties between 1983 and 1985, who survived to age three and had moderate or severe CP. Of these, 78 had undergone fetal monitoring and were compared with 300 controls without CP to explore heart-pattern abnormalities identified on monitoring.

Multiple late decelerations in the heart rate and decreased beat-to-beat variability of the heart rate were both associated with an increased risk of CP (odds ratios of 3.9 and 2.7, respectively) that remained after adjustment for confounders. However, these…