Digital Foetal Scalp Stimulation Versus Foetal Blood Sampling to Assess Foetal Well-Being in Labour: A Multicentre Randomised Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To establish whether digital foetal scalp stimulation (dFSS) performs better than foetal blood sampling (FBS) in terms of reducing the rate of caesarean section (CS) in labour, without adversely affecting perinatal outcomes.

Design

A multicentre parallel-group randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Maternity centres in Ireland.

Population

The study aimed to randomise 2500 nulliparous women who required a second-line test of foetal well-being in labour due to abnormal cardiotocography (CTG).

Methods

Participants were randomly allocated to dFSS or FBS in a 1:1 ratio. Analysis was according to the published protocol and included a meta-analysis of the pilot study data and trial data.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcome was CS.

Result

SUBMITTER: Yambasu S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11879904 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature