Umbilical cord prolapse : A race against time

Arina Chandrababu; Disha Bhojwani; Sushil Kumar; Sunil Sharma

Volume : VII, Issue : I, January - 2018

Umbilical cord prolapse : A race against time

Arina Chandrababu, Disha Bhojwani, Sushil Kumar, Sunil Sharma

Abstract :

Prolapse of the umbilical cord, which has a perinatal mortality rate of 50%, is an obstetric emergency that threatens the life and well-being of the fetus. (1) The incidence of umbilical cord prolapse is only 1 in 200 to 300 pregnancies (3.3 to 5.0 per 1000 deliveries. (2, 3) Factors predisposing to umbilical cord prolapse are largely unavoidable. (3) They include fetal malpresentation, preterm delivery, premature rupture of the memanes, contracted pelvis, big baby, and multiparity. The incidence has been noted to be declining in the last seven decades due to increase in the safety and use of elective caesarean section in non-cephalic presentations and more active intrapartum management of preterm pregnancies. (4,5)