Abstract

AbstractThe evolution of a fetal intensive care unit (FICU) has come about in the past five years and has enabled obstetricians to be more exact in the interpretution of fetal distress and well-being. Described is the FICU at Vanderbilt University Hospital, which provides for the monitoring of fetul heart rate along with the maternal contractions on a continuous basis, as well as other methods of fetal monitoring, such as sampling of the feral scalp. Presented are four case reports which are representative of the unexpected findings that may be observed with routine continuous monitoring of the fetal heart rate. In the four instances, fetal monitoring permitted: recognition of type of fetal heart rate deceleration and avoidance of primary cesarean section; early diagnosis of an occult cord prolapse and expedient treatment; a successful emergency cesarean section done due to persistent late deceleration pattern, loss of beat-to-beat irregularity, and a fetal pH of 7.1; and an early diagnosis of abruptio placentae resulting in early treatment.