Parametric spectral analysis of umbilical artery doppler signals for fetal heart rate variability evaluation

1.The aim of this study was to define from umbilical artery flow velocity waveforms absolute peak systolic and time-averaged velocity, fetal heart rate, fetal heart rate variability and flow velocity variability, and the relation between fetal heart rate and velocity variables in early pregnancy. 2.A total of 108 women presenting with a normal pregnancy from 10 to 20 weeks of gestation consented to participate in a cross-sectional study design. Doppler ultrasound recordings were made from the free-floating loop of the umbilical cord. 3.Umbilical artery peak systolic and time-averaged velocity increased at 10–20 weeks, whereas fetal heart rate decreased at 10–15 weeks of gestation and plateaued thereafter. Umbilical artery peak systolic velocity variability and fetal heart rate variability increased at 10–20 and 15–20 weeks respectively. 4.The inverse relationship between umbilical artery flow velocity and fetal heart rate at 10–15 weeks of gestation suggests that the Frank–Starling mechanism regulates cardiovascular control as early as the late first and early second trimesters of pregnancy. A different underlying mechanism is suggested for the observed variability profiles in heart rate and umbilical artery peak systolic velocity. It is speculated that heart rate variability is mediated by maturation of the parasympathetic nervous system, whereas peak systolic velocity variability reflects the activation of a haemodynamic feedback mechanism.

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Reliability of spectral analysis of fetal heart rate variability

2014 36th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society ◽

10.1109/embc.2014.6944209 ◽

2014 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

G. J. J. Warmerdam ◽

R. Vullings ◽

J. W. M. Bergmans ◽

S. G. Oei

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Spectral Analysis ◽

Fetal Heart Rate ◽

Fetal Heart ◽

Fetal Heart Rate Variability

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Spectral Analysis of Fetal Heart Rate Variability in Fetuses with Supraventricular Extrasystoles

Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy ◽

10.1159/000070811 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 18 (4) ◽

pp. 284-288 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Carolyn Troeger ◽

Andreas F. Schaub ◽

Paolo Bernasconi ◽

Irene Hösli ◽

Wolfgang Holzgreve

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Spectral Analysis ◽

Fetal Heart Rate ◽

Fetal Heart ◽

Fetal Heart Rate Variability

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Quantification of the Fetal Heart Rate Variability by Spectral Analysis in Growth-Retarded Fetuses

Gynecologic and Obstetric Investigation ◽

10.1159/000293769 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 186-191 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

G. Breborowicz ◽

J. Moczko ◽

J. Gadzinowski

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Spectral Analysis ◽

Fetal Heart Rate ◽

Fetal Heart ◽

Fetal Heart Rate Variability

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Quantification of the fetal heart rate variability by spectral analysis of fetal well-being and fetal distress

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology ◽

10.1016/0028-2243(94)90246-1 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 54 (2) ◽

pp. 103-108 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Olivier Sibony ◽

Jean-Pierre Fouillot ◽

Mokhtar Benaoudia ◽

Abdelhay Benhalla ◽

Jean-François Oury ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Spectral Analysis ◽

Fetal Heart Rate ◽

Fetal Heart ◽

Fetal Distress ◽

Well Being ◽

Fetal Heart Rate Variability

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Effects of neuromuscular blockade on fetal heart rate variability: a power spectrum analysis

Journal of Applied Physiology ◽

10.1152/jappl.1995.79.1.63 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 79 (1) ◽

pp. 63-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

O. Sibony ◽

J. P. Fouillot ◽

D. Luton ◽

J. F. Oury ◽

P. Blot

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Heart Rate Variability ◽

Spectral Analysis ◽

Fetal Heart Rate ◽

Fetal Heart ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Frequency Component ◽

Fetal Movements ◽

Fetal Heart Rate Variability ◽

Main Components

Spectral analysis of fetal heart rate variability allows quantitative determination of the main components that affect this variability. The physiological significance of these components is unclear; however, movements appear to contribute to variability. We studied six fetuses in which immobility required for in utero magnetic resonance or invasive fetal procedures was achieved by fetal intravascular injection of curare between 32 and 36 amenorrhea weeks. For each fetus, we compared spectral density parameters of heart rate variability. After curare administration, mean spectrum power was halved. We did not observe a larger significant decrease in any (very low, low, or high) frequency band. The other parameters of spectral analysis of variability were unaltered. Fetal movements accounted for a significant proportion of human fetal heart rate variability but did not constitute a unique frequency component.

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