Fetal vibroacoustic stimulation.

OBJECTIVE

To review the literature on fetal vibroacoustic stimulation as a method of changing the fetal sleep state during nonstress testing.

DATA SOURCES

The MEDLINE data base and reference lists were used to select articles pertaining to human and animal fetal vibroacoustic stimulation.

METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION

We reviewed the English-language literature with respect to sound intensity, stimulus duration, and repetition rate as possible means of altering fetal sleep-wake cycles.

DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS

Several criteria have been used to measure fetal response: gestational age, fetal heart rate, fetal movements, fetal breathing movements, fetal habituation, and fetal behavioral states. The use of vibroacoustic stimulation for antepartum and intrapartum fetal assessment and safety issues are also reviewed.

CONCLUSION

Although further research is needed, the ability of vibroacoustic stimulation to elicit FHR accelerations has been established, thus decreasing the false-positive rate associated with nonreactive nonstress testing.