Sweden TA council sceptical about STAN claims for foetal monitoring

There is limited scientific evidence to suggest that foetal monitoring during birth can be improved by using a STAN monitor, claims a recent report, published by the Swedish Council on Technology Assessment in Health Care (SBU). Furthermore, the report is sceptical about any potential healthcare economy benefits that could be gained by the use of this method STAN, which has been approved by the US FDA, combines standard cardiotocography (CTG) technology with the ST waveform analysis of the foetal electrocardiogram (ECG). Essentially, the combination of CTG and ST offers a more precise identification of foetuses suffering from a lack of oxygen and allows for accurate and consistent intervention. The method was developed by Neoventa Medical, a company that develops monitoring and management tools for improved perinatal healthcare. The company is based in Molndal, near Gothenburg, Sweden.