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has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Foetal heart rate variability frequency characteristics with respect to uterine contractions

  AUTHORS: Mario Cesarelli, Maria Romano, Mariano Ruffo, Paolo Bifulco, Giulio Pasquariello

  KEYWORDS: Foetal Heart Rate, Uterine Contractions, Foetal Monitoring

  JOURNAL NAME: Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering, Vol.3 No.10, October 28, 2010

  ABSTRACT: Monitoring foetal health is important to appropriately plan pregnancy management and delivery. Cardiotocography (CTG) is one of the most employed diagnostic techniques. Because CTG interpretation still lacks of complete reliability, new methods of interpretation and parameters are necessary to further support physicians’ decisions. To this aim, indexes related to variability of foetal heart rate (FHRV) are particularly studied. Frequency components of FHRV and their modifications can be analysed by applying a time-frequency approach, which allows for a distinct understanding of the spectral components related to foetal reactions to internal and external stimuli and their change over time. Being uterine contractions (UC) strong stimuli for the foetus and his autonomic nervous system (ANS), it is worth exploring the FHRV response to UC. This study analysed modifications of FHRV frequency characteristics with respect to 108 UC (relative to 35 healthy foetuses). Results showed a statistically significant (t-test, p