[Fetal heart rate monitoring in the prenatal diagnosis of cord position abnormalities].

External monitorings of fetal heart rate in 2,628 cases of cord around the neck and funis presentation from June 1985 to June 1991 were analysed. The positive rate was 81.66% and the pseudo-negative rate 18.34%. 1,680 cases (63.93%) with variable deceleration were observed. Among them V wave was seen in 745 monitorings (28.53%), mostly due to umbilical compression: U wave in 238 monitorings (9.06%), mostly due to intrauterine asphyxia; and W wave in 223 monitorings (8.49%), more due to cord compression and funis presentation but also due to acute fetal intrauterine anoxia, rebound acceleration and rebound deceleration wave was observed in 316 monitorings (12.02%), more due to cord compression. The remaining 158 monitorings (6.01%) showed mixed waves. There were 51 perinatal deaths including 6 fetal, 5 still births, and 40 neonatal deaths. The perinatal mortality rate was 19.41%. The relationship among the monitor waves, the fetal growth, umbilical cord, nature of the amnionic fluid, Apgar score, etc, immediately after delivery was analyzed and the clinical significance was discussed. It was suggested that Nipple Stimulation Contraction Stress Test (NS-CST) or Contraction Stress Test (CST) could be used as a good method for prenatal diagnosis.