Which fetal heart rate pattern is most concerning for uteroplacental insufficiency?

Which fetal heart rate pattern is most concerning for uteroplacental insufficiency?

• A. Early decelerations
• B. Late decelerations
• C. Variable decelerations
• D. Prolonged tachycardia

Answer: (B)

Late decelerations are the pattern most strongly linked to uteroplacental insufficiency. They begin after the start of a contraction and don’t recover until after the contraction ends, reflecting transient fetal hypoxemia due to reduced placental blood flow during each contraction. This timing makes them the most concerning sign of placental dysfunction. By contrast, early decelerations come from head compression and are usually benign, variable decelerations relate to cord compression and can occur with various issues, and prolonged tachycardia is a non-specific sign of fetal distress that isn’t as clearly tied to placental insufficiency.

Late decelerations are the pattern most strongly linked to uteroplacental insufficiency. They begin after the start of a contraction and don’t recover until after the contraction ends, reflecting transient fetal hypoxemia due to reduced placental blood flow during each contraction. This timing makes them the most concerning sign of placental dysfunction. By contrast, early decelerations come from head compression and are usually benign, variable decelerations relate to cord compression and can occur with various issues, and prolonged tachycardia is a non-specific sign of fetal distress that isn’t as clearly tied to placental insufficiency.