AbstractIntroduction: Admission test is a noninvasive, easily performed, interpreted and readily accepted by the patients. It can be used as screening procedure to detect preexisting fetal hypoxia and plan early intervention to prevent adverse perinatal outcome. The present study was thus conducted to evaluate the efficacy of admission test in predicting fetal outcomes at birth in term low risk pregnant women. Materials & Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted from August 2015 to July 2017. 100 low risk (normal) pregnant mothers fulfilling the inclusion criteria, attending the labour room were included.The admission test was conducted and interpreted for all patients. On the basis of admission test results, type of delivery and neonatal outcome at birth was assessed. Data was analyzed using SPSS ver 21.0. Results: NonReassuring Admission Test was observed in 12% subjects. Caesarean delivery was conducted in 41.7% of females with nonreassuring NST as compared to 11.4% females with reassuring NST. Meconium stained liquor was observed in 50% of babies with nonreassuring NST as compared to 3.4% babies with reassuring NST (p<0.01). APGAR score at 1 and 5 minutes were significantly lower in babies with nonreassuring NST (p<0.01). Fetal distress and NICU admission rate was observed in 50% and 66.7% of babies with nonreassuring NST as compared to 2.3% and 2.3% babies with reassuring NST (p<0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of NST in predicting fetal distress was 50% and 97.7% respectively. Conclusion: The result of admission test can be used to identify patients likely to develop adverse fetal outcomes and help in optimal utilization of labour room with limited resources. Thus, admission test can be used as an important noninvasive method to diagnose fetal compromise present at the time of admission in low risk patients in early labour.
Keywords: Admission Test; Low Risk Pregnancy; Neonatal Outcome; Cardiotocography.