Telemedicine for home care of fetal growth restriction with mobile cardiotocography: A case series

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022 Nov 25. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14592. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Modern technological advancements have made it possible to perform cardiotocography (CTG) at home. Home-based management of high-risk pregnancies using a mobile CTG system (iCTG) has been reported; however, its effectiveness in monitoring cases of fetal growth restriction (FGR) remains unclear. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the clinical usefulness of home-based telemedicine for FGR management using iCTG.

METHODS: We conducted a single-center, retrospective case series of patients with FGR. Seventeen women diagnosed with FGR were enrolled in this study. Patients performed iCTG for 1 h twice daily to examine their fetuses; data were uploaded and saved on the cloud.

RESULTS: The median and minimum compliance rates were 93.33 [interquartile range (IQR): 70.00-100.00] and 40.7, respectively. The median and minimum validity rates were 100.00 (IQR, 90.48-100.00) and 36.4, respectively. In this study, many of the patients were managed at home and delivered as planned. However, three patients required emergency visits; one had a non-reassuring fetal status and underwent an emergency cesarean section.

CONCLUSION: Even when the fetal prognosis is good, careful pre-evaluation is required before initiating home care management. Our study shows that the economic burden of hospitalization for patients can be reduced by using iCTG.

PMID:36426931 | DOI:10.1002/ijgo.14592