NONSTRESS TEST FOR THE ANTEPARTUM ASSESSMENT OF FETAL RESERVE

Seven hundred and twenty two nonstress tests (NSTs) that were performed on a total of 471 patients were reviewed. The results of the study suggest that the NST is a simple, reliable test as a primary screening procedure in antepartum fetal heart rate (FHR) monitoring. The active and reactive tests were indeed reliable indicators of fetal well being while the nonreactive test required an additional discriminatory evaluation. A tentative classification is suggested for those cases with FHR decelerations associated with fetal activity and uterine contractions.