Review: Trends in Fetal Assessment

Abstract

Swnmary: Progress in methods of fetal assessment in late pregnancy has been reviewed by analyzing the papers on this subject in 4 obstetrical journals in 1975. Among 107 papers on fetal assessment, the most common subjects were phospholipid assays for fetal lung maturity, antenatal fetal heart rate measurements, ultrasonic studies, and oestrogen assays. The lecithin/sphingomyelin ratio test has become established as the best currently available measure of functional fetal maturity. Antenatal fetal heart monitoring, with or without oxytocin infusion, is a valuable means of identifying the fetus at risk in late pregnancy.