Assessment of foetal wellbeing during labour is critical for reducing adverse perinatal outcomes. While pulse oximetry is widely used in adult and paediatric medicine, its application in intrapartum foetal monitoring remains limited. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a foetal pulse oximeter device (OxiReed™, formerly First Touch™) for obtaining intrapartum foetal oxygen saturation (SpO₂) measurements. A cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary referral hospital involving 110 women in the first or second stage of labour. Eligible participants had singleton pregnancies at ≥ 34 weeks’ gestation, vertex presentation, and ruptured membranes. A disposable foetal pulse oximetry probe was applied to the foetal scalp during routine vaginal examinations. SpO₂ values were recorded for feasibility assessment and descriptive analysis, with a value of 60% used as a descriptive reference threshold. Concurrent CTG tracings were classified according to both the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the U.S. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) criteria. The primary outcomes were technical feasibility (successful acquisition of readings), time to acquisition, and safety, with descriptive associations between SpO₂ levels and CTG categories explored. Data were analysed using RStudio version 4.3.2. Foetal pulse oximetry readings were successfully obtained in all 110 participants, yielding 198 paired SpO₂–CTG observations. The median acquisition time was 14 s (IQR 10–21), and no adverse maternal or neonatal events were reported. Most normal CTG tracings were associated with SpO₂ values ≥ 60%, while lower SpO₂ values were more frequently observed in not-normal CTGs. All neonates had reassuring short-term outcomes based on clinical assessment. Foetal pulse oximetry during labour using a disposable scalp probe was feasible, safe, and allowed rapid acquisition of SpO2 readings under routine labour ward conditions. This study was not designed to evaluate diagnostic accuracy, validated SpO₂ thresholds, or impact on intrapartum decision-making. Larger prospective studies incorporating biochemical reference standards are required to determine whether this technology has a role as an adjunct to conventional intrapartum monitoring. (http://www.edctp.org/pan-african-clinical-trials-registry/) Trial Number: PACTR202010913594375 on 28th October 2020.
Oindi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.
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