[Kinetocardiotocography--KCTG--during pregnancy in an ambulatory care patient sample and in hospitalized patients with special reference to tocolysis].

With kinetocardiotocography (KCTG), fetal movements can be registered parallel to the fetal heart rate. Hewlett Packard equipment of the series 1350 A allows the movements to be registered an quantified on the CTG paper. In this study, hospitalized pregnant women > 26 gestational weeks (GW) on i.v. tocolysis, and out-patients > 34 GW at the out patient department were examined with KCTG and the results compared. A wide distribution of fetal activity was seen in both groups. With advancing pregnancy, the number of fetal movements as well as the duration of activity per time unit decreased, whereas the length of time of individual movements slightly increased, in both groups. No statistically significant difference was seen between different gestational ages nor between the two groups. KCTG is being increasingly used to monitor the fetal condition, especially for risk pregnancies. It can provide additional information in the form of a biophysical variable.