The fetal scalp electrode shortage is an urgent patient safety issue

Daniel J Kiely; Lawrence W Oppenheimer

doi:10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101021

The fetal scalp electrode shortage is an urgent patient safety issue

Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM. 2023 Aug;5(8):101021. doi: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101021. Epub 2023 May 17.

Authors

Daniel J Kiely¹, Lawrence W Oppenheimer²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital du Centre-de-la-Mauricie, Shawinigan and Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada (Dr Kiely). Electronic address: danieljameskiely@gmail.com.
² and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ottawa Hospital, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (Dr Oppenheimer).

PMID: 37201795
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2023.101021

Abstract

There is currently a shortage of fetal scalp electrodes because of a recent recall due to concerns about the breakage of the electrode tip with possible injury to the neonate. Although the recall is presumably intended to improve safety, the resulting shortage of fetal scalp electrodes poses risks to patients because of inadequate fetal heart rate monitoring in cases where an adequate signal cannot be obtained with external fetal monitoring and/or when maternal heart rate artifact cannot be resolved by repositioning of transducers and application of a maternal pulse oximeter.

Keywords: brain hypoxia-ischemia; cardiotocography; fetal heart rate; fetal monitoring; obstetrics; product recalls and withdrawals.

MeSH terms

Cardiotocography / methods
Electrodes
Female
Fetal Monitoring
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Patient Safety*
Pregnancy
Scalp* / injuries