Comparison of five classification systems for interpreting electronic fetal monitoring in predicting neonatal status at birth

Abstract

Parer & Ikeda and NICHD classifications had the highest specificity in detecting umbilical cord arterial pH ≤7.15. The high specificity of the NICHD classification is hindered by a high percentage of "intermediate" traces (80%). Parer & Ikeda classification is the one that best classify as pathological only the traces of fetuses that are truly at risk of acidemia, thus avoiding unnecessary intervention. It also showed the best trade-off between sensitivity and specificity and the lowest rate of traces considered "intermediate."