Authors: ShunJen Tan ChiHuang Chen GwoJang Wu WeiHwa Chen ChengChang Chang
Publish Date: 2009/04/22
Volume: 281, Issue: 1, Pages: 137-
Abstract
Umbilical cord abnormalities are accepted as conditions associated with intrauterine fetal demise IUFD and umbilical cord stricture is most frequently encountered In addition although cord entanglement with multiple loops rarely increases the perinatal mortality it is associated with a significant increase in variable kind of morbidity such as growth restriction We describe a 27yearold woman with a missed abortion history at about 10 weeks’ gestation in her first pregnancy who presented to our outpatient department at 34 4/7 weeks of gestation due to decreased fetal activity during the preceding week No fetal heart activity and blood flow had been detected by ultrasonography and pulsedwave Doppler A demised fetus with umbilical cord stricture and three loops around abdomen was delivered and was weighted 1830 g that was below the tenth percentile for the gestational age Either umbilical cord stricture or entanglement around the body can affect the development of the fetus and even be lethal The former might play a more important role in this case Their etiology and the sequence of the events are still undetermined and additional evaluation such as autopsy and further research may be needed In addition counsel and frequent fetal surveillance should be done in patients with previous IUFD attributed to cord stricture during next pregnancy because of undetermined risk of recurrence
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