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Fetal descent

MedGen UID:
452282
•Concept ID:
C0233221
•
Sign or Symptom
Synonyms: Fetal Descent; Foetal descent
SNOMED CT: Foetal descent (18745002); Fetal descent (18745002)

Definition

The movement of the fetus led by the presenting part into the maternal pelvic cavity during active labor. [from NCI]

Term Hierarchy

CClinical test,  RResearch test,  OOMIM,  GGeneReviews,  VClinVar  
  • CROGVFetal descent

Professional guidelines

PubMed

Perils of the new labor management guidelines.
Cohen WR, Friedman EA
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015 Apr;212(4):420-7. Epub 2014 Sep 16 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.09.008. PMID: 25218127

Recent clinical studies

Etiology

Descent of the presenting part assessed with ultrasound.
Eggebø TM, Hjartardottir H
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024 Mar;230(3S):S901-S912. Epub 2021 Aug 27 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.08.030. PMID: 34461079
The Pathophysiology of Labor Dystocia: Theme with Variations.
Kissler K, Hurt KJ
Reprod Sci 2023 Mar;30(3):729-742. Epub 2022 Jul 11 doi: 10.1007/s43032-022-01018-6. PMID: 35817950Free PMC Article
Warm perineal compresses during the second stage of labor for reducing perineal trauma: A meta-analysis.
Magoga G, Saccone G, Al-Kouatly HB, Dahlen G H, Thornton C, Akbarzadeh M, Ozcan T, Berghella V
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2019 Sep;240:93-98. Epub 2019 Jun 15 doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.06.011. PMID: 31238205
The assessment of labor: a brief history.
Cohen WR, Friedman EA
J Perinat Med 2018 Jan 26;46(1):1-8. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2017-0018. PMID: 28328535
Fetal descent in labor.
Graseck A, Tuuli M, Roehl K, Odibo A, Macones G, Cahill A
Obstet Gynecol 2014 Mar;123(3):521-526. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000000131. PMID: 24499749

Diagnosis

Descent of the presenting part assessed with ultrasound.
Eggebø TM, Hjartardottir H
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024 Mar;230(3S):S901-S912. Epub 2021 Aug 27 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.08.030. PMID: 34461079
The Pathophysiology of Labor Dystocia: Theme with Variations.
Kissler K, Hurt KJ
Reprod Sci 2023 Mar;30(3):729-742. Epub 2022 Jul 11 doi: 10.1007/s43032-022-01018-6. PMID: 35817950Free PMC Article
Perils of the new labor management guidelines.
Cohen WR, Friedman EA
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015 Apr;212(4):420-7. Epub 2014 Sep 16 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.09.008. PMID: 25218127
Cesarean delivery for abnormal labor.
Mancuso MS, Rouse DJ
Clin Perinatol 2008 Sep;35(3):479-90, ix. doi: 10.1016/j.clp.2008.06.004. PMID: 18952016
A second look at the second stage of labor.
Roberts J, Woolley D
J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs 1996 Jun;25(5):415-23. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.1996.tb02446.x. PMID: 8791229

Therapy

The Pathophysiology of Labor Dystocia: Theme with Variations.
Kissler K, Hurt KJ
Reprod Sci 2023 Mar;30(3):729-742. Epub 2022 Jul 11 doi: 10.1007/s43032-022-01018-6. PMID: 35817950Free PMC Article
Fetal descent in nulliparous women assessed by ultrasound: a longitudinal study.
Hjartardóttir H, Lund SH, Benediktsdóttir S, Geirsson RT, Eggebø TM
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021 Apr;224(4):378.e1-378.e15. Epub 2020 Oct 8 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.10.004. PMID: 33039395
Warm perineal compresses during the second stage of labor for reducing perineal trauma: A meta-analysis.
Magoga G, Saccone G, Al-Kouatly HB, Dahlen G H, Thornton C, Akbarzadeh M, Ozcan T, Berghella V
Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2019 Sep;240:93-98. Epub 2019 Jun 15 doi: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2019.06.011. PMID: 31238205
Descent of the fetal head (station) during the first stage of labor.
Hamilton EF, Simoneau G, Ciampi A, Warrick P, Collins K, Smith S, Garite TJ
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2016 Mar;214(3):360.e1-6. Epub 2015 Oct 22 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.10.005. PMID: 26475422
Hydrotherapy in labor.
Benfield RD
J Nurs Scholarsh 2002;34(4):347-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2002.00347.x. PMID: 12501738

Prognosis

Descent of the presenting part assessed with ultrasound.
Eggebø TM, Hjartardottir H
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024 Mar;230(3S):S901-S912. Epub 2021 Aug 27 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.08.030. PMID: 34461079
Improving Nurse Management of the Second Stage of Labor.
Dent M, VanOtterloo L, Brady M
Nurs Womens Health 2023 Oct;27(5):344-353. Epub 2023 Jul 29 doi: 10.1016/j.nwh.2023.03.005. PMID: 37524314
Prognostic accuracy of ultrasound measures of fetal head descent to predict outcome of operative vaginal birth: a comparative systematic review and meta-analysis.
Skinner SM, Giles-Clark HJ, Higgins C, Mol BW, Rolnik DL
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023 Jul;229(1):10-22.e10. Epub 2022 Nov 23 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.11.1294. PMID: 36427598
Fetal descent in nulliparous women assessed by ultrasound: a longitudinal study.
Hjartardóttir H, Lund SH, Benediktsdóttir S, Geirsson RT, Eggebø TM
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2021 Apr;224(4):378.e1-378.e15. Epub 2020 Oct 8 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2020.10.004. PMID: 33039395
The assessment of labor: a brief history.
Cohen WR, Friedman EA
J Perinat Med 2018 Jan 26;46(1):1-8. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2017-0018. PMID: 28328535

Clinical prediction guides

The second stage of labor.
Cohen WR, Friedman EA
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024 Mar;230(3S):S865-S875. Epub 2023 Jul 24 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.06.014. PMID: 38462260
Descent of the presenting part assessed with ultrasound.
Eggebø TM, Hjartardottir H
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024 Mar;230(3S):S901-S912. Epub 2021 Aug 27 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2021.08.030. PMID: 34461079
The assessment of labor: a brief history.
Cohen WR, Friedman EA
J Perinat Med 2018 Jan 26;46(1):1-8. doi: 10.1515/jpm-2017-0018. PMID: 28328535
Perils of the new labor management guidelines.
Cohen WR, Friedman EA
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015 Apr;212(4):420-7. Epub 2014 Sep 16 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2014.09.008. PMID: 25218127
Hydrotherapy in labor.
Benfield RD
J Nurs Scholarsh 2002;34(4):347-52. doi: 10.1111/j.1547-5069.2002.00347.x. PMID: 12501738

Recent systematic reviews

Prognostic accuracy of ultrasound measures of fetal head descent to predict outcome of operative vaginal birth: a comparative systematic review and meta-analysis.
Skinner SM, Giles-Clark HJ, Higgins C, Mol BW, Rolnik DL
Am J Obstet Gynecol 2023 Jul;229(1):10-22.e10. Epub 2022 Nov 23 doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.11.1294. PMID: 36427598

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