To determine the incidence of normal, suspicious and pathological non-stress test (NST) in full term pregnant women in a tertiary healthcare centre

Abstract

All fetuses undergo physiological stress in the process of labour. Various techniques of foetal surveillance have been developed. Non stress test at admission may be used as an effective screening technique, to detect fetuses at risk. It is a noninvasive technique that can be used to identify compromised fetal. Prior to onset of labour also some fetuses may have stress that may be identified by NST at admission. Foetal surveillance is needed to ensure fetal wellbeing with minimum intervention. Intermittent auscultations may be used in low risk, but it cannot determine accelerations, baseline FHR, decelerations, baseline variability. Thus, taking NST helps to detect the ability of fetus to respond to stress. Hence, it may be useful to prevent neurological injuries like cerebral palsy. Thus, NST at admission has been accepted widely. It is considered as first investigation for fetal surveillance in some studies to decrease perinatal mortality. In busy labour wards, with limited resources, it plays an important role for selection of patients requiring continuous monitoring. Aim and objectives: To determine the incidence of normal, suspicious and pathological NST in full-term, pregnant women. To state the role of NST at admission in determining pregnancy outcome in full-term pregnancies. Material and Method: It was a prospective cohort study conducted in Bangalore Baptist Hospital during November 2020 to September 2021in 680 women. Results: Among the studied full term pregnant women attending tertiary health care center 77.06% had normal NST, 21.77 % had suspicious NST and 1.18% had pathological NST. There was statistically significant association (p value <0.05) between NST at admission and risk factors, mode of delivery, category of LSCS and APGAR at 1 min and 5 min. Conclusion: We concluded that NST at admission can be used as a screening tool to identify patients who are at risk and need more vigorous monitoring.