Babies’ deaths linked to inadaquate fetal heart monitoring
By Danell Swim
February 25, 2008
Inadequate foetal heart rate monitoring has been cited in the deaths of three Canterbury babies.
The deaths occurred between July 2004 and June 2005.
All are recorded as “unexpected” by the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) in the recent report into sentinel and serious events.
They are among about eight neo-natal deaths nationwide since 2002 in which inadequate foetal heart rate monitoring played a role.
According to the document, the first Canterbury baby was delivered after a difficult labour, and “on review, foetal distress may have been recognised earlier”.
A subsequent recommendation by the CDHB to adopt National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines does not appear to have averted the other two deaths.
The second baby’s death highlighted a need for continuous foetal monitoring, while the third died due to difficulties with monitoring foetal well-being and complications during the delivery.
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