Summary:
Intrapartum foetal hypoxia represents one of the most frequent causes of the hypoxia-ischemia CNS injury in newborns
and it can result in the development of a permanent handicap. It often results from the underestimation of the
development of the delivery by the obstetrician who conducts delivery and who is responsible for it. That is why the
contemporary obstetrics is using new instruments, enabling to evaluate objectively the development of the intrapartum
foetal hypoxia. The praxis consequently introduced cardiotocography (CTG), foetal pulse oximetry (FpO2) and
recently new methods for evaluation of ST interval in foetal ECG- STAN. The last method has the highest specificity
for prediction of the foetal hypoxia and it properly signalises the development of the metabolic foetal acidosis,
which threatens the foetus during delivery and which can impair the vital organs. Foetal myocardium sensitively
responds to the release of stress hormones, to the development of anaerobic metabolism and to the increase of potassium
levels. The development of hypoxia manifests in ECG as a subsequent rise of T wave, elevation of T/QRS
segment and as a significantly biphasic ST interval. The last sign indicates serious state of the foetus in utero accompanied
with metabolic acidosis.
Key words:
Foetal hypoxia, ST analysis, foetal monitoring.