Fetal tachycardia as an indicator of maternal and neonatal morbidity.

Presented is a prospective, controlled study to determine if intrapartum fetal tachycardia is reliable as an indicator of maternal and fetal infectious morbidity. Thirty neonates with defined intrapartum tachycardia were matched by gestational age and weight with 30 control subjects without defined tachycardia. There was a significant difference in maternal febrile morbidity and a trend toward a difference in maternal infectious morbidity between the two groups. There was no significant difference in maternal complications at delivery or administration of antibiotics to the mother. Among the neonates, there was a significant difference in administration of antibiotics and the incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) between the two groups; however, both of these were significantly related to birth weight. There was no significant difference between the two groups in duration of ruptured membranes, duration of labor, number of vaginal examinations, or antepartum anemia. Only one study infant had a bacteremia. The data confirm an increased risk of neonatal complications, such as RDS, asphyxia, and meconium aspiration, in association with intrapartum fetal tachycardia.