Is intrapartum fever associated with ST-waveform changes of the fetal electrocardiogram? A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate the association between maternal intrapartum fever and ST-waveform changes of the fetal electrocardiogram.<h4>Design</h4>Retrospective cohort study.<h4>Setting</h4>Three academic and six non-academic teaching hospitals in the Netherlands.<h4>Population</h4>Labouring women with a high-risk singleton pregnancy in cephalic position beyond 36 weeks of gestation.<h4>Methods</h4>We studied 142 women with fever (≥38.0°C) during labour and 141 women with normal temperature who had been included in two previous studies. In both groups, we counted the number and type of ST-events and classified them as significant (intervention needed) or not significant, based on STAN(®) clinical guidelines.<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>Number and type of ST-events.<h4>Results</h4>Both univariable and multivariable regression analysis showed no association between the presence of maternal intrapartum fever and the number or type of ST-events.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Maternal intrapartum fever is not associated with ST-segment changes of the fetal electrocardiogram. Interpretation of ST-changes in labouring women with fever should therefore not differ from other situations.