What Does My Electronic Fetal Monitoring Medical Report Indicate?

Posted on Wed, 6 May 2015

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Wed, 6 May 2015 Answered on

Sat, 23 May 2015 Last reviewed on

Question : To Dr XXXXXXX XXXXXXX Thank you Hope you can help. Following is excerpt from Hospital record: Fetal Assessments demonstrates: Ans. 2 accelerations in 30 mins or a bpp of 8/10. No late deceleration's in the past 30 minutes. No variable deceleration's exceeding 30 seconds and decreasing greater than 60 bpp from baseline in the past 30 mins. Question : Is this info from EFM (external fetal monitor) or IUPC (intrauterine pressure catheter. and what does it mean?. tks again PS Is there a record kept of these readings if IUPC

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (3 hours later)

Brief Answer:
This is EFM, and records for both are always kept - EFM and IUPC.

Detailed Answer:
Hello Mrs. XXXX
It is nice to hear from you.
Okay.
LEt me explain.
AN external fetal monitor measures the fetal heart rate, and the IUPC measures uterine contractions.
Irrespective of which one it is, records are always supposed to be kept, particular when the outcome hinges on the recording.
And BPP indicates a biophysical profile.
Each of the five components – body movements, muscle tone, breathing movements, amniotic fluid, and heartbeat – is assigned a score of either 0 (abnormal) or 2 (normal). These are added up for a total score ranging from 0 to 10. In general, a total score of 8 or 10 is normal, 6 is considered borderline, and below 6 is worrisome.
BPP includes both - an ultrasound scan , and a NST - non stress test, NST is done via an EFM.
SO for calculating BPP, ultrasound scan is a must, which is ALWAYS recorded.
Hope I have been clear enough.
Feel free to discuss further.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar

Follow up: Dr. Aarti Abraham (14 hours later)

As usual you are the best. Here there was no bio physical testing or ultra sound Only EFM (which apparently malfunctioned for several hours but was 98%(Cat 1)and an IUPC which was also defective. Where, in your opinion, would the "fetal assessment" referenced in prior communication originate and what does it mean as it relates to birth or reasons to early induce. Thank you again.

Answered by Dr. Aarti Abraham (4 hours later)

Brief Answer:
The EFM reading is normal, no reason obvious to induce.

Detailed Answer:
Hello again.
THank you for the kind words.
See they have mentioned a BPP of 8 / 10.
BPP In itself means biophysical profile.
That HAS to include an ultrasound scan and fetal heart rate monitoring.
Just EFM and IUPC cannot give a BPP score.
There is clearly a big gap in information here.
The fetal assessment mentions a BPP of 8 / 10, but does not mention a scan .
THe EFM readings too are normal.
Frankly, the assessment just includes findings from the EFM ( electronic fetal monitor ) and those are normal.
There is just no visible reason to induce early.
Can you scan the complete hospital records, so that I might maybe pick up some information that might have missed your notice ?
Scan and upload the entire document set I mean ?

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar