The biophysical profile integrates ...

The biophysical profile integrates several observations of fetal status into an assessment tool that usually is used during the antepartum period to guide clinical management. Using the standardized Manning technique, biophysical profile scores of eight or higher have been associated with decreases in perinatal mortality and incidence of cerebral palsy. During labor, abnormalities in fetal heart rate monitoring are associated with increased risk of cesarean delivery, however the rate of false positives is from 63 to 998 percent Kim and colleagues studied the character of biophysical profile as an adjunct to fetal heart rate monitoring during labor to improve prediction of operative delivery and other adverse outcomes

The authors studied 100 normal time singleton deliveries at an inner-city teaching hospital. Mothers with any medical or obstetric complications were exclud from the reflection All mothers received one biophysical profile during active labor in addition to continuous fetal heart rate monitoring. The clinicians managing the labor were not aware of the biophysical profile follows and the researcher measuring the conclusions was not aware of the fetal heart rate tracings. The biophysical profile follows were correlated with cesarean delivery and admission to neonatal intensive care.

undivided half of the mothers studied were black, and 35 were Hispanic. Eighty-four percent of biophysical profile assessments were made at a cervical dilation of 4 to 6 cm Scores of eight or more were recorded for 73 mothers, 16 mothers had a score of six, seven mothers scored four, and five mothers scored sum of two units Low biophysical profile scores (six or lower) were more universal in younger women of lower parity. The score was not influenced through use of epidural anesthesia, oxytocic agents, or prostaglandins. In 77 mothers, delivery was spontaneous vaginal birth. Eight mothers had instrumental deliveries, and 15 underwent cesarean delivery. The biophysical profile score was inversely related to the risk of cesarean delivery. In women with scores of sum of two units or less, the chance of cesarean delivery reached 60 percent The relative risk of cesarean delivery rose to 80 in mothers with biophysical profile scores of six or les during labor.

The authors gather that the biophysical profile could be a clinically useful tool to assess fetal status during labor and could assist in predicting which mothers are at high risk of cesarean delivery.

Kim SY et al. Is the intrapartum biophysical profile useful? Obstet Gynecol September 2003;102:471-6

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