A nurse is explaining the purpose of a Contraction Stress Test (CST) to a pregnant client.
What does the CST aim to assess?
Fetal well-being.
Maternal blood pressure.
Placental function.
Amniotic fluid volume.
The Correct Answer is A
A contraction stress test (CST) is performed near the end of pregnancy to determine how well the fetus will cope with the contractions of childbirth.
The aim is to induce contractions and monitor the fetus to check for heart rate abnormalities using a cardiotocograph.
A normal heartbeat is a good sign that the fetus will be healthy during labor.
Choice B is wrong because a CST does not measure maternal blood pressure.
Choice C is wrong because a CST does not assess placental function directly.
Choice D is wrong because a CST does not measure amniotic fluid volume.
Normal ranges for fetal heart rate are between 110 and 160 beats per minute.
Normal ranges for uterine contractions are between 2 and 5 contractions in 10 minutes, lasting less than 90 seconds each.
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Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
An equivocal CST indicates late decelerations of the FHR with less than 50% of contractions.
This means that the fetus may have some degree of hypoxia or distress, but not enough to warrant immediate delivery.
An equivocal CST may also result from hyperstimulation of the uterus, which can cause excessive contractions and reduce blood flow to the placenta.
Choice B is wrong because late decelerations of the FHR with at least 50% of contractions is a positive CST, which indicates a high risk of fetal death due to hypoxia and is a contraindication to labor.
Choice C is wrong because no late decelerations of the FHR during contractions is a negative CST, which indicates a good fetal wellbeing and tolerance of labor.
Choice D is wrong because variable decelerations of the FHR with or without contractions are not related to uterine activity and may indicate cord compression or other fetal problems.
Variable decelerations are not used to interpret CST results.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
This is because a nuchal translucency ultrasound measures the amount of fluid behind the baby’s neck in the first trimester of pregnancy, which can indicate the risk of having a chromosomal condition like Down syndrome.
Some possible explanations for the other choices are:
Choice A is wrong because fetal growth and development are not directly related to the nuchal translucency measurement.
Fetal growth and development are assessed by other parameters such as crown-rump length, biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, etc.
Choice B is wrong because blood flow in the umbilical cord is not measured by the nuchal translucency ultrasound.
Blood flow in the umbilical cord is assessed by Doppler ultrasound, which evaluates the resistance and velocity of blood flow in the umbilical artery and vein.
Choice D is wrong because structural abnormalities in the baby’s organs are not detected by the nuchal translucency ultrasound.
Structural abnormalities in the baby’s organs are diagnosed by a detailed anatomy scan, which is usually performed in the second trimester of pregnancy.
The normal range for nuchal translucency is between 1 mm and 3 mm.
A measurement above 3 mm is considered increased and may indicate a higher risk of chromosomal or genetic conditions.
However, a nuchal translucency ultrasound is a screening test and not a diagnostic test, so it does not confirm or rule out any condition.
It only provides a probability based on statistical calculations.
Therefore, further testing may be recommended if the nuchal translucency measurement is increased or if other risk factors are present.
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