Biomaterial Database

Randomised evaluation of a prototype suction fetal scalp electrode. 1996

A M Gülmezoĝlu, and V C Nikodem, and G J Hofmeyr, and A E Bunn

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Coronation Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa.

OBJECTIVE To compare the performance and acceptability of a prototype suction fetal scalp electrode with that of a double helix spiral electrode. METHODS An urban academic hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa. METHODS Randomised, by means of sealed opaque envelopes opened consecutively. METHODS One hundred women in active labour with an indication for direct fetal heart rate monitoring. METHODS Application of a fetal scalp electrode to the presenting part. METHODS Performance of the electrodes with respect to application success, detachment, quality of the tracings, scalp trauma and women's preferences. RESULTS Application of the suction electrode was unsuccessful in 15/50 (30%) compared to 1/50 (2%) with the spiral electrode. Detachment rates were similar. There were more tracings of average quality with the suction electrode (nine versus four). There were three instances of scalp bleeding at delivery with the spiral electrode. The suction electrode was preferred by more women and its application caused somewhat less discomfort. CONCLUSIONS The lower rate of successful application with the suction electrode needs to be weighed against the advantage of avoiding fetal scalp penetration. In particular, women's concerns about pain or harm to the baby from needle electrodes, the theoretical risk of viral transmission, and the risk of serious scalp infection must be considered. These factors favour the use of a suction electrode when direct fetal heart rate monitoring is required. Needle electrodes should be considered when suction electrode application is unsuccessful. Correction of practical problems experienced with the prototype suction electrodes used in this study may result in improved success rates.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D004566	Electrodes	Electric conductors through which electric currents enter or leave a medium, whether it be an electrolytic solution, solid, molten mass, gas, or vacuum.	Anode,Anode Materials,Cathode,Cathode Materials,Anode Material,Anodes,Cathode Material,Cathodes,Electrode,Material, Anode,Material, Cathode
D004867	Equipment Design	Methods and patterns of fabricating machines and related hardware.	Design, Equipment,Device Design,Medical Device Design,Design, Medical Device,Designs, Medical Device,Device Design, Medical,Device Designs, Medical,Medical Device Designs,Design, Device,Designs, Device,Designs, Equipment,Device Designs,Equipment Designs
D004868	Equipment Failure	Failure of equipment to perform to standard. The failure may be due to defects or improper use.	Defects, Equipment,Device Failure,Failure, Equipment,Malfunction, Equipment,Medical Device Failure,Misuse, Equipment,Device Failure, Medical,Device Failures, Medical,Failure, Medical Device,Failures, Medical Device,Defect, Equipment,Device Failures,Equipment Defect,Equipment Defects,Equipment Failures,Equipment Malfunction,Equipment Malfunctions,Equipment Misuse,Equipment Misuses,Failure, Device,Failures, Device,Failures, Equipment,Malfunctions, Equipment,Misuses, Equipment
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D012535	Scalp	The outer covering of the calvaria. It is composed of several layers: SKIN; subcutaneous connective tissue; the occipitofrontal muscle which includes the tendinous galea aponeurotica; loose connective tissue; and the pericranium (the PERIOSTEUM of the SKULL).	Scalps
D015148	Cardiotocography	Monitoring of FETAL HEART frequency before birth in order to assess impending prematurity in relation to the pattern or intensity of antepartum UTERINE CONTRACTION.	CTG, Antepartum,Cardiotocogram,Electronic Fetal Monitoring,External Cardiotocography,External Fetal Monitoring,Internal Cardiotocography,Internal Fetal Monitoring,Antepartum CTG,Cardiotocograms,Cardiotocography, External,Cardiotocography, Internal,Fetal Monitoring, Electronic,Fetal Monitoring, External,Fetal Monitoring, Internal,Monitoring, Electronic Fetal,Monitoring, External Fetal,Monitoring, Internal Fetal