The 2008 National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Workshop Report on Electronic Fetal Monitoring

TLDR

In April 2008, NICHD, ACOG, and SMFM convened a 2‑day workshop with obstetric experts and stakeholders to revisit nomenclature, interpretation, and research recommendations for intrapartum electronic fetal monitoring. The article summarizes workshop discussions and outlines prioritized future research topics. The workshop discussed terminology for fetal heart tracings and uterine contractions and introduced a three‑tier system for interpreting intrapartum fetal heart rate tracings. Guidelines for describing and interpreting intrapartum fetal heart rate tracings were established.

Abstract

In Brief In April 2008, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine partnered to sponsor a 2-day workshop to revisit nomenclature, interpretation, and research recommendations for intrapartum electronic fetal heart rate monitoring. Participants included obstetric experts and representatives from relevant stakeholder groups and organizations. This article provides a summary of the discussions at the workshop. This includes a discussion of terminology and nomenclature for the description of fetal heart tracings and uterine contractions for use in clinical practice and research. A three-tier system for fetal heart rate tracing interpretation is also described. Lastly, prioritized topics for future research are provided. Guidelines for describing and interpreting intrapartum fetal heart rate tracings are provided