Fetal scalp blood testing is a technique used in obstetrics during active labor to confirm whether a fetus is receiving enough oxygen. This is a supplementary procedure used to determine if fetal acidemia has occurred following fetal cardiac distress.[1] While continuous fetal heart rate monitoring is the primary method for assessing fetal wellbeing during labor, a change in fetal heart rate is not indicative of fetal acidemia.[1][2] Some of the signs and symptoms of oxygen deprivation are pH in the umbilical cord, abnormal fetal heartbeat and abnormal coloration of amniotic fluid.[3][4] This correlation can only be concluded by sampling fetal scalp blood and measuring acid status.[1] Therefore, fetal scalp blood testing could be used to reduce the number of unnecessary emergency caesarean sections made on the decision of fetal heart rate alone.[1]
Fetal blood sampling is a useful procedure that can diagnose, treat, or monitor different fetal problems. With the help of a small needle, various providers and specialists can remove small amounts of blood from the fetus. This procedure is used to help determine blood type, diagnose genetic abnormalities, identify fetal infections, fetal anemia, and low platelet count. With the help of continuous ultrasound guidance to place the needle in the abdomen into the tiny fetal blood vessel, the blood sample gets obtained and sent for testing.[5] Therefore, due to limitation in adding value, fetal scalp testing can serve as second line test to provide and strengthen the information on fetal acidosis and hypoxia status obtained from cardiocotography (CTG).[6][7] Cardiocotography is the primary means of monitorning a fetus during pregnancy as well as labour.[4]
Fetal blood sampling is a complex procedure and performed when other tests are not possible. It can be done for pregnancies that are 18 weeks or later. The procedure has many benefits such as providing specific information about the baby's health and the ability to treat babies with any severe blood diseases before birth. Potential risks include bleeding from the fetal blood sampling site, infection, changes to heart rate, and death.[8]
^ abcdBohiltea RE, Mihai BM, Ducu I, Cioca AM, Bohiltea AT, Iordache AM, et al. (November 2022). "Current Innovative Methods of Fetal pH Monitoring-A Brief Review". Diagnostics. 12 (11): 2675. doi:10.3390/diagnostics12112675. PMC 9689968. PMID 36359522.
^"Fetal scalp pH testing Information | Mount Sinai - New York". Mount Sinai Health System. Retrieved 2023-08-01.
^van Tetering AA, van de Ven J, Fransen AF, Dieleman JP, van Runnard Heimel PJ, Oei SG (November 2017). "Risk factors of incomplete Apgar score and umbilical cord blood gas analysis: a retrospective observational study" (PDF). The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine. 30 (21): 2539–2544. doi:10.1080/14767058.2016.1256985. PMID 27884069. S2CID 744955.
^ abAlarcón-Rodríguez R, Martín-Álvarez MP, García-González J, Requena-Mullor M, Rodríguez-García MC, Zheng R, Rey RR (March 2023). "Determination of Foetal Scalp Blood Sampling pH as an Indicator of Loss of Foetal Well-Being in Women Undergoing Caesarean Section". Healthcare. 11 (5): 725. doi:10.3390/healthcare11050725. PMC 10001157. PMID 36900730.
^McMacken M. "Fetal Blood Sampling". www.hopkinsmedicine.org. Retrieved 2023-07-28.
Fetalscalpbloodtesting is a technique used in obstetrics during active labor to confirm whether a fetus is receiving enough oxygen. This is a supplementary...
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fetus. A wire electrode, sometimes called a spiral or scalp electrode, is attached to the fetalscalp through the cervical opening and is connected to the...
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fetalscalp electrode to give an additional measure of fetal heart activity, and/or intrauterine pressure catheter (IUPC). It can also involve fetal scalp...
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fields. Bundles of these neurons that are orientated tangentially to the scalp surface project measurable portions of their magnetic fields outside of...
glands. Cortisol may be incorporated into hair from blood, sweat, and sebum. A 3 centimeter segment of scalp hair can represent 3 months of hair growth, although...
may result in fetal alcohol spectrum disorders). Most cerebral arteriovenous malformations are congenital, these tangled networks of blood vessels may remain...
complications to the infant include bruising to the scalp, retinal bleeding, and scrapes to the scalp and face. When fetal distress occurs during the second stage...
may be confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of the blister fluid or scabs. Testing for antibodies may be done to determine if a person...
the external carotid nourishes other portions of the head, such as face, scalp, skull, and meninges. Carotid artery stenosis – is a narrowing or constriction...
neuropathy, and hair loss. Use during pregnancy will likely result in fetal harm. Gemcitabine is in the nucleoside analog family of medication. It works...
can occur. Chemotherapy induces hair loss in women more often than men. Scalp cooling offers a means of preventing both permanent and temporary hair loss;...
syndrome is often mislabeled as CRS and consists of cutis aplasia of the scalp in which a longitudinal defect can vary in size and can often be associated...
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