To investigate the influential factor and corresponding neonatal outcome of variable deceleration (VD) that exist in fetal heart rate(FHR) pattern of nonstress testing (NST).

A retrospective review of 141 FHR patterns with VD in whole 2 160 NST records was performed to compare the incidence of the influential factor and the outcome of neonatus between different VD patterns.

The incidence of VD was 6. 5%(141/2 160)in NST. The rate of influential factor appeared in simple VD and atypical VD was 55. 84% (43/77) and 92. 42% (61/64) respectively, the difference have statistical significance(P<0. 001). Among 141 neonatus,125 cases had Apgar scores that higher than 7 at1 minute, 16 cases had that scores lower than 7. Neonatal asphyxia rate was 2. 59%(2/77)in cases with simple VD, was 21. 21 % (14/66) in cases with atypical VD, and the former ones had a lower cesarean section rate than the later ones (20. 78% vs. 55. 05%, P<0. 001).

VD which exist in NST is correlated with many factors, of the total umbilical cord abnormality is most common. Fetal distress induce atypical VD more easier than simple VD.