Fetus

Late Deceleration

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Late Deceleration, FHR Late Deceleration

  • See Also
  1. Fetal Assessment
  2. Fetal Testing Indications
  3. Fetal Heart Tracing
  4. Fetal Distress
  • Definitions
  1. Late Deceleration
    1. Late Decelerations start after the contraction
    2. Onset to Late Deceleration nadir >=30 seconds
    3. Ends after contraction is over
    4. Contrast with Early Deceleration which mirrors the contraction
    5. Subtle Late Decelerations may also be significant
  2. Recurrent Late Decelerations
    1. Late Decelerations that occur with >50% of contractions in 20 minutes
  3. Prolonged Late Decelerations
    1. Late Decelerations that last >2 minutes
  • Causes
  1. More ominous if associated with decreased variability
  2. Uteroplacental insufficiency
    1. Fetal acidosis
    2. Fetal Hypoxemia
  • References
  1. Bailey (2000) ALSO, E:1-13
  2. Gabbe (2002) Obstetrics, p. 395
  3. Arnold (2020) Am Fam Physician 102(3): 158-67 [PubMed]
  4. Rylander (2001) Clin Fam Pract 3(2):287-305 [PubMed]