Course 3

Course 3: Case Scenario Emphasizes Late Decelerations

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Course 3: Case Scenario Emphasizes Late Decelerations is a clinical case scenario reviewing FHR pattern definitions and pathophysiology with emphasis on late decelerations. This course presents a series of questions, followed by detailed feedback, explanation and references. Medical illustration and animation provide additional information for key concepts.

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this course, the participant will be able to:

  • Explain the standardized definitions for visual interpretation of electronic fetal heart rate monitoring patterns as proposed by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Research Planning Workshop in 1997.
  • Describe the characteristics of late FHR decelerations.
  • Identify the four categories of FHR baseline variability.
  • Explain the significance of moderate FHR variability.
  • Describe the physiology and mechanism of late deceleration.
  • Define normal umbilical artery pO2 values.
  • Describe 3 FHR characteristics that are highly predictive of the absence of metabolic acidosis/acidemia.
  • Explain the characteristics of the FHR tracing that indicate that metabolic acidosis/acidemia cannot be excluded reliably and further evaluation is necessary.
  • List the characteristics of the fetal reflex response to transient hypoxemia.

A 5 question post-test is designed to document the participant’s knowledge of standardized fetal heart rate terminology and pattern recognition related to the case scenario.