Biophysical profile
Prenatal ultrasound evaluation of fetal well-being
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Through Prenatal development, Ultrasound and Fetus
The "modified biophysical profile" consists of the NST and amniotic fluid index only.
Procedure
The BPP has five components: four ultrasound (US) assessments and an NST. The NST evaluates fetal heart rate and response to fetal movement. The five discrete biophysical variables are:
- Fetal heart rate
- Fetal breathing
- Fetal movement
- Fetal tone
- Amniotic fluid volume
Use of vibroacoustic stimulation to accelerate evaluation has been described.
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Interpretation
Each assessment is graded either 0 or 2 points and then added up to yield a number between 0 and 10. A BPP of 8 or 10 is generally considered reassuring. A BPP normally is not performed before the second half of a pregnancy since fetal movements do not occur in the first half. The presence of these biophysical variables implies absence of significant central nervous system hypoxemia/acidemia at the time of testing. By comparison, a compromised fetus typically exhibits loss of accelerations of the fetal heart rate (FHR), decreased body movement and breathing, hypotonia, and, less acutely, decreased amniotic fluid volume.