The effect of intrapartum fetal pulse oximetry, in the presence of a nonreassuring fetal heart rate pattern, on operative delivery rates: A multicenter, randomized, controlled trial (the FOREMOST trial)

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare operative delivery rates for nonreassuring fetal status between 2 groups of laboring women: those having conventional cardiotocograph monitoring and those having cardiotocograph monitoring plus fetal pulse oximetry. Study design: The intrapartum fetal oximetry prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled trial (the FOREMOST trial) was conducted in 4 Australian maternity hospitals. The primary outcome was operative birth rates for nonreassuring fetal status. Results: There was a statistically significant 23% relative risk reduction in operative delivery for nonreassuring fetal status in the fetal pulse oximetry + cardiotocograph group (..