Objective: To investigate the clinical value of remote fetal monitoring network in high-risk pregnancy.
Methods: Non-stress test (NST) was carried on in 116 high-risk gravida by remote fetal monitoring network (study group). One hundred high-risk pregnant women served as control group, were monitored by fetal movement counting daily and regular NST check-up in hospital. Results of fetal monitoring, neonatal prognosis and cesarean section were analyzed between the study and control group.
Results: NST was applied more frequently in the study group (9.2 +/- 4.9) times than in control group (2.6 +/- 1.3) times (P < 0.001). But the costs were similar. The incidences of neonatal asphyxia (10.3%) and preterm birth (12.6%) in the study group were lower than those in the control group (20.8% and 24.5%) (P < 0.05). In the study group, there was significant difference in the rate of poor neonatal prognosis between normal and abnormal NST groups (64.8% and 17.7%) (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the rates of cesarean section (75.9% and 75.0%, respectively) and poor neonatal prognosis of cesarean section with abnormal NST (71.7% and 60.6%, respectively) between the study and control groups (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: Remote fetal monitoring network can be used to improve the quality of fetal monitoring, especially in primary hospital. It decreased the rate of neonatal asphyxia and preterm delivery but didn't increase the cesarean section rate. It offers a reliable and economic method of self-monitoring for high-risk pregnant women.