Importance of differentiating maternal heart rate artifact during cardiotocography: avoiding misinterpretation to improve pregnancy outcomes
10.3760/cma.j.cn113903-20250425-00215
- VernacularTitle:胎心监护时鉴别母体心率伪影的重要性：避免误判以改善妊娠结局
- Author:
Ye FENG
1
;
Huixia YANG
1
Author Information
1. 北京大学第一医院妇产生殖医学中心，北京 100034
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Cardiotocography;
Maternal heart rate artifact;
Pregnancy outcome;
Fetal distress;
Labor management
- From:
Chinese Journal of Perinatal Medicine
2025;28(12):1077-1081
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
This article addresses the critical importance of recognizing and differentiating maternal heart rate artifact (MHRA) during cardiotocography for improving pregnancy outcomes. MHRA occurs when fetal monitors erroneously identify and display maternal heart rate signals as fetal heart rate, potentially masking genuine fetal distress or leading to unnecessary medical interventions. The analysis examines MHRA incidence, risk factors, and associations with adverse perinatal outcomes, highlighting increased misinterpretation risks during the second stage of labor and maternal tachycardia. Through representative cases, we emphasize the clinical value of recognizing MHRA warning signs, including sudden "normalization" of fetal heart rate patterns and contraction-synchronous accelerations. The review synthesizes evidence supporting effective differentiation strategies that combine pulse oximetry for maternal heart rate monitoring with real-time ultrasonography. Finally, integrating international guidelines with clinical practice, we propose that multimodal monitoring and novel technology applications represent key approaches for reducing misinterpretation and enhancing cardiotocography quality.
