Effect of ambient light on the time needed to complete a fetal biophysical profile: A randomized controlled trial. (October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Said, Heather M.; Gupta, Shweta; Vricella, Laura K.; Wand, Katy; Nguyen, Thinh; Gross, Gilad
• Is Part Of: European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology. Volume 217(2017)
• Page Start: 59
• Page End: 65
• Publication Date: 2017-10
• Subjects: Fetal behavior -- Ambient light -- Biophysical profile -- Fetal stimulus -- Light stimulus; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Reproductive health -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Reproduction -- Periodicals; Obstétrique -- Périodiques; Gynécologie -- Périodiques; Reproduction -- Périodiques; Verloskunde; Gynaecologie; Voortplanting (biologie); Gynecology; Obstetrics; Reproduction; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 618.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2017.08.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-2115

Abstract

Abstract: Objective: The objective of this study is to determine whether ambient light serves as a fetal stimulus to decrease the amount of time needed to complete a biophysical profile. Study design: This is a randomized controlled trial of singleton gestations undergoing a biophysical profile. Patients were randomized to either ambient light or a darkened room. The primary outcome was the time needed to complete the biophysical profile. Secondary outcomes included total and individual component biophysical profile scores and scores less than 8. A subgroup analysis of different maternal body mass indices was also performed. Results: 357 biophysical profile studies were analyzed. 182 studies were performed with ambient light and 175 were performed in a darkened room. There was no difference in the median time needed to complete the biophysical profile based on exposure to ambient light (6.1 min in darkened room versus 6.6 min with ambient light; P = 0.73). No difference was found in total or individual component biophysical profile scores. Subgroup analysis by maternal body mass index did not demonstrate shorter study times with ambient light exposure in women who were normal weight, overweight or obese. Conclusion: Ambient light exposure did not decrease the time needed to complete the biophysical profile. There was no evidence that ambient light altered fetal behavior observed during the biophysical profile.