1. Sawtooth fetal heart rate pattern associated with a favorable neurological outcome in an infant: a case report
- Author
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Tsutomu Miyamoto, Norihiko Kikuchi, Sakura Yamanaka, Tanri Shiozawa, Ryoichi Asaka, Satoshi Ohira, Makoto Kanai, Chiho Fuseya, and Hirofumi Ando
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Cardiotocography ,Central nervous system ,lcsh:Medicine ,Fetal heart rate monitoring ,Case Report ,030204 cardiovascular system & hematology ,Fetal Distress ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Central Nervous System Diseases ,Pregnancy ,medicine ,Humans ,Neurological sequelae ,Vaginal bleeding ,Fetus ,Placental abruption ,business.industry ,Obstetrics ,Cesarean Section ,lcsh:R ,Infant, Newborn ,Sawtooth fetal heart rate pattern ,General Medicine ,Heart Rate, Fetal ,medicine.disease ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,In utero ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Gestation ,Apgar score ,Female ,Fetal Heart Rate Pattern ,medicine.symptom ,business - Abstract
Background The sawtooth fetal heart rate pattern is rare, and has been reported as a possible indicator of neurological sequelae in newborns. However, we observed this fetal heart rate pattern in an infant with normal neurological function. Case presentation A 29-year-old primigravida Japanese woman presented to our hospital at 40 weeks and 1 day of gestation with marked vaginal bleeding. Since admission, fetal heart rate tracing consistently demonstrated a sawtooth-like pattern. There were 3–4 oscillations per minute, and their amplitude was 30–40 beats per minute. An emergency cesarean section was performed because of non-reassuring fetal status. Evidence of placental abruption was not observed. The newborn was a male weighing 2936 g, with an Apgar score of 1 and 3 at 1 minute and 5 minutes, respectively. The infant received brain cooling, but was discharged uneventfully. A follow-up examination at age 3 years demonstrated no developmental restriction. Conclusion Although the Apgar score of the newborn was low, the infant had no neurological sequelae. Thus, the sawtooth fetal heart rate pattern may not be linked to in utero irreversible fetal central nervous system injury. more...
- Published
- 2018