TRIMESTER - Rotunda Library Newsletter June 2014 | Page 5

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Volume 7 Issue 2
June 2014

CTG Made Easy, 4th Edition
Book Review

CTG Made Easy, 4th Edition, continues the successful format of previous
editions, offering a practical guide to all health professionals involved in
monitoring the fetal heart rate during labour, and specifically in the
interpretation of CTG traces. The workbook approach remains, with many
new and updated case histories and CTGs, all using current terminology and
a recommended proforma for interpretation.
The book will aid health professionals to acquire competence and confidence in all aspects of fetal heart rate monitoring during labour, improving the
care offered to women and babies.

• Evidence relating to fetal monitoring in labour updated to current national
guidance

• Expanded section debating the issues surrounding intermittent
auscultation versus continuous electronic fetal heart rate monitoring

• Expanded section on the physiological control of the fetal heart rate, fetal
blood sampling and acid base balance

• Risk management updated, including risks and benefits of current
Gauge, S. M., (2012)
CTG Made Easy. 4th Edition.
Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone
[ISBN: 978 0 7020 5214 9]

methods of fetal heart rate monitoring, future developments, and legal issues

• References comprehensively reviewed, including NICE and RCOG
clinical guidelines

By Charmaine Scallan, Clinical Skills Facilitator

C

TG Made Easy, 4th Edition, is a concise,
practical guide to fetal heart rate monitoring,
with a specific focus on developing skills in the
interpretation of CTG’s.
This book provides clear definitions, explains the
aetiology and management of each of the features of
CTG. In particular, it not only provides a description
of variable decelerations but also clear illustrations of
atypical variable decelerations to aid understanding.
CTG Made Easy continues to utilise its unique workbook
approach enjoyed in previous additions, however the new
page layout is more user friendly. The book aids
discussion of each of the features of CTG by presenting

the reader with several CTG’s traces and questions to focus
on the development of skills in interpretation.
In this 4th Edition, a chapter is dedicated to litigation and the
CTG. It utilizes recent litigation cases to demonstrate the
difficulties encountered with monitoring techniques and
interpretation and provides the reader with snap-shots into
cases that proceed to litigation. The books user friendly
presentation will appeal to any busy professional involved
in CTG interpretation, as it concisely presents the most
recent research on the topic. It is ideal for those who want
to quickly develop their skills or experienced clinicians who
wish to revise various aspects.
Well worth a visit to the library.

Many thanks to Charmaine for providing an in-depth book review of the new edition of CTG Made Easy.
If you would like to provide a review of a recent book added to our collection please get in touch.