NCC Certified Electronic Fetal Monitoring (C-EFM) Practice Exam

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Short R-to-R intervals observed in a fetal electrocardiogram are indicative of what?

  1. Bradycardia

  2. Tachycardia

  3. Normal fetal heart rate

  4. Fetal rest periods

The correct answer is: Tachycardia

Short R-to-R intervals in a fetal electrocardiogram indicate a faster than normal heart rate, which is characterized by tachycardia. In the context of fetal monitoring, tachycardia refers to a sustained heart rate above the normal range, typically defined as greater than 160 beats per minute. When observing the R-to-R intervals, shorter intervals suggest that the heart is contracting more frequently within a given period. This could be a response to various factors such as maternal distress, fetal hypoxia, or other physiological conditions that warrant further assessment. It's important to note that while a normal fetal heart rate reflects a well-oxygenated and healthy fetus, short R-to-R intervals do not align with that, as they indicate an increased heart rate rather than a stable or healthy rhythm. Similarly, bradycardia, which refers to an abnormally low heart rate, would involve longer intervals between R waves, contrasting the condition presented by short intervals. Fetal rest periods might exhibit variability in heart rate but are not characterized by uniformly short R-to-R intervals.