Intrapartum Vibroacoustic Stimulation Test and Cardiotocography for the Prediction of Neonatal Outcome

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the role of intrapartum vibroacoustic stimulation (VAST) and cardiotocography (CTG) for the prediction of neonatal outcome. Materials and methods:One hundred and twenty-five patients in labor with cephalic presentation were selected and subjected to CTG and VAST was done further to find out whether fetus is reactive or nonreactive and findings were correlated with the fetal outcome.Results: VAST is a good predictor of fetal well being. It is less time consuming, inexpensive and technically easy to perform. In developing countries, where fetal scalp blood sampling is not available in all institutions, VAST can effectively be used as a clinical tool to compliment abnormal CTG traces for better prediction of fetal outcome.

Comparison of Nonstress Test and Light stimulation Test and their correlation with fetal outcome

“…This test has the advantage that it has very low false negative rates so it is very unlikely for it to miss a compromised fetus which is very important in considering a test as a screening test and there are no contraindications to the test, it is very easy, inexpensive and the basis of reactive and nonreactive is standard and doesn't vary all over the world. The major drawback is that it has high number of false positive cases due to sleeping or hypoactive foetuses [2].…”

“…NST is popular due to ease of its application and modest technical requirement. The point not in favour of it is high number of false positive cases mainly due to foetuses which are asleep or are hypoactive [2]. These foetuses could be made active by stimulating them by number of means like manual stimulation, glucose ingestion, vibroacoustic stimulation and light stimulation.…”