The relevance of Short-Term Variation (STV) value measured within 1 hour before delivery in predicting adverse neonatal outcome

Abstract

Objectives: Computer CTG analysis (cCTG) included short-term variation (STV) is one of the methods of monitoring fetal condition during delivery. The aim of our study was to define appropriability of STV measured within 1 hour before delivery in prediction of neonatal outcomes. Material and methods: The retrospective study included 1014 pregnant women, who gave birth in the Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology. Participants were divided into two groups: group 1 — term pregnancies (37–41 weeks) and group 2 — preterm pregnancies (lower than 37 weeks). In each of them, two subgroups have been separated: control (STV ≥ 3 ms) and study group (STV < 3 ms). Results: In both groups 1 and 2, there were no statistically significant differences related to Apgar scores in 1st, 3rd and 5th minute between group with STV < 3 ms and group with STV > 3 ms Moreover, for 37–41 weeks the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were: 22.7%, 83.9%, 3.3% and 97.8% and for lower than 37: 45.7%, 65.4%, 47.1%, 64.2% in 1st minute after delivery. In group 1 the area under curve (AUC) measurements were 0.45 (95% CI: 0.32–0.58) for 1st minute and 0.55 (95% CI: 0.35–0.74) for 5th minute and in group 2: 0.58 (95% CI: 0.45–0.71) for 1st minute and 0.57 (95% CI: 0.42–0.72) for 5th minute. Conclusions: High specificity and negative predictive value of STV indicates a good Apgar score of newborns in term pregnancies. Analysis of STV in preterm pregnancy is not clear. Fetal well-being in preterm pregnancy should include STV and other non-invasive and invasive tools