Cardiotocography as a method of diagnosis of the occurrence of fetal distress during the intrauterine life of fetuses of Saanen goats: standardization of the examination methodology

• Grant number: 17/23506-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 01, 2018
• End date: February 28, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Melina Marie Yasuoka
• Grantee: Bruna Caroline Pimentel Furlan
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos (FZEA). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Pirassununga , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cardiotocography is one of the most widely used tests for assessing fetal vitality in human medicine. The examination is based on fetal heart rate, behavior and is performed by means of a special device (cardiotocograph), which records fetal heart rate, uterine contractions and fetal body movements. The present research, by the proposed experimental design, will have the purpose of standardizing the cardiotocography technique to be used to evaluate the existence of fetal hypoxia / distress during the intrauterine life of goats, trying to establish, in the last month of gestation, the values of heart rate normality for healthy fetuses and to determine the pattern of accelerations and decelerations of the heart beat associated with fetal movement and uterine contractions in the parameters obtained in this cardiotocography. For the accomplishment of the present research, the pregnancies of 30 goats of the race Saanen will be followed. The animals will be examined at two times: between 8 and 15 days and 1 to 7 days before delivery. All females used will be healthy, and will have normal parturition. For the accomplishment of carditocogrphy will be used the Fetal Monitor - Microprocessed Cardiotocgrph Model MFCM-7000 of the company MEDPEDJ. The duration of the examination will be of at least 20 and at most 40 minutes per animal. During the examination, the location where the best fetal heart rate signal can be obtained will be recorded. The following will be determined during the examination: a) baseline heart rate assessment; b) accelerations and decelerations without external stimulation; c) accelerations and decelerations due to the spontaneous movement of the fetus; d) accelerations and decelerations due to uterine contraction (AU)