A biophysical profile (BPP) is a
prenatal
Prenatal development () includes the development of the embryo and of the fetus during a viviparous animal's gestation. Prenatal development starts with fertilization, in the germinal stage of embryonic development, and continues in fetal devel ...
ultrasound
Ultrasound is sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is not different from "normal" (audible) sound in its physical properties, except that humans cannot hear it. This limit varies fr ...
evaluation of
fetal
A fetus or foetus (; plural fetuses, feti, foetuses, or foeti) is the unborn offspring that develops from an animal embryo. Following embryonic development the fetal stage of development takes place. In human prenatal development, fetal develo ...
well-being involving a scoring system, with the score being termed Manning's score.
Page 215
Chapter 39 on Biophysical Profile (BPP), in: Title: Diagnostic Ultrasound, Volume: 2, Issue: 1 of The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice, Author: Norman W. Rantanen. Publisher: Jaypee Brothers Publishers, 1986. . Length: 261 pages It is often done when a non-stress test (NST) is non reactive, or for other obstetrical indications.
The "modified biophysical profile" consists of the NST and amniotic fluid index
Amniotic fluid index (AFI) is a quantitative estimate of amniotic fluid and an indicator of fetal well-being. It is a separate measurement from the biophysical profile.
AFI is the score (expressed in cm) given to the amount of amniotic fluid seen ...
only.
Procedure
The BPP has 5 components: 4 ultrasound
Ultrasound is sound waves with frequencies higher than the upper audible limit of human hearing. Ultrasound is not different from "normal" (audible) sound in its physical properties, except that humans cannot hear it. This limit varies fr ...
(US) assessments and an NST. The NST evaluates fetal heart rate and response to fetal movement. The five discrete biophysical variables:
# Fetal heart rate
# Fetal breathing
# Fetal movement
# Fetal tone
# Amniotic fluid volume
Use of vibroacoustic stimulation to accelerate evaluation has been described.
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.
See also
* Nonstress test
* Cardiotocography
Cardiotocography (CTG) is a technique used to monitor the fetal heartbeat and the uterine contractions during pregnancy and labour. The machine used to perform the monitoring is called a cardiotocograph.
Fetal heart sounds was described as ear ...
References
{{Obstetrical procedures
Tests during pregnancy