Spectral analysis of antepartum fetal heart rate variability from fetal magnetocardiogram recordings

• Published in: Early human development Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 15 - 24
• Main Authors: Wakai, Ronald T., Wang, Minghong, Pedron, Stephen L., Reid, Deborah L., Martin, C.B.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.11.1993; New York,NY Elsevier; Amsterdam
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Fetal heart rate spectral analysis; Fetal heart rate variability; Fetal magnetocardiogram; Fetal Monitoring - methods; Gestational Age; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Heart Function Tests - methods; Heart Rate, Fetal; Humans; Magnetics; Management. Prenatal diagnosis; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Respiratory sinus arrhythmia; Fetal heart rate spectral analysis; Respiratory sinus arrhythmia; Fetal magnetocardiogram; Fetal heart rate variability; Performance evaluation; Pregnancy; Human; Heart rate; Surveillance; Variability; Exploration; Fetus; Magnetocardiography; Technique; Spectral analysis
• ISSN: 0378-3782; 1872-6232
• DOI: 10.1016/0378-3782(93)90134-G

Fetal heart rate variability was derived from fetal magnetocardiogram recordings in ten subjects at gestation ages 32–38 weeks. Maternal interference was negligible and R-wave detection was highly reliable. Oscillations suggestive of respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) were prominent in many of the heart rate tracings. Spectral analysis was used to quantify heart rate variability and to examine the influence of the RSA-like oscillations on heart rate variability. The oscillations were associated with increased power in the frequency range 0.4–1.0 Hz ( P ≤ 0.05). Magnetic recording appears to offer significant advantages for investigation of beat-to-beat fetal heart rate throughout the latter stages of pregnancy.