Roberto Caldeyro Barcia (1921–96): establishing the basis of modern obstetric physiology

Abstract

Physicians have used fetal heart monitoring for 300 years but it has faced a revolution in the last 50 years after the incorporation of new devices and the discovery of the normal patterns of labour. Dr Caldeyro Barcia in Uruguay was one of the pioneers of the development of intrauterine pressure monitors and, with Dr Edward H Hon (1917–2007), he established the basis of modern electronic fetal heart monitoring which is still used in most labour and delivery rooms across the World. Nowadays medicine and technology advances so fast that devices created 10 years ago are considered old fashioned or obsolete.