Patterns of Admission Cardiotocography Decisions and Associated Perinatal Outcomes in a Southern Nigerian Teaching Hospital

Aims: To determine the patterns of obstetric decisions based on Cardiotocography (CTG) findings and the effect of these decisions on labour outcomes.

Study Design: Retrospective observational audit.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Ilishan-Remo. Data were obtained from all intrapartum CTG tracings done from January 2016 to December 2018.

Methodology: A consecutive sampling technique was used and the case files, delivery register and follow up records of all included CTG tracings were used to obtain maternal and perinatal data. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 21.0. Numerical data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation (SD). The Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables while the independent T-test was used to compare means of groups studied. Binary logistic regression was used to assess the factors related to maternal and perinatal outcomes. The level of statistical significance was be set at p-value of <0.05.

Results: There were 756 deliveries, but only 436 CTGs met the inclusion criteria. The prevalence of abnormal CTG was 130/436 (29.8%); 93/436(21.3%) were suspicious while 37/436 (8.5%) were pathological. On the basis of CTG; 300/436 (68.8%) of the parturients had intermittent fetal heart tone auscultation, 100/436 (22.9%) had continuous Electronic fetal monitoring (EFM) while labour was stopped in 36/436 (8.3%). The 5th minute APGAR score did not depend on the admission CTG finding (0.55), the decision to stop or continue labour (p=0.26) or the use of continuous EFM (P=0.66). Maternal near miss (MNM) was not a consequence of the decision to stop labour (P=0.98) or the use of continuous EFM (P=0.19). The mode of delivery outcome was however a consequence of decisions to continue or stop labour (P <0.001, AOR=0.202, 95%CI=0.153-0.265). Pregnancy risk was a consistent determinant of maternal outcomes; occurrence of MNM (P <0.001, AOR=0.002, 95%CI=0.000-0.032) and mode of delivery (P <0.001, AOR=0.015, 95%CI=0.005-0.043).

Conclusion: Decisions based on admission CTG was associated with a high rate of operative deliveries, without any significant effect on fetal or maternal outcomes. CTG in labour should be restricted to pregnancies adjudged as high risk based on obstetric factors and CTG should be used as an adjunctive triaging instrument.