Straight umbilical cord
Straight umbilical cord implies, as the name suggests, an umbilical cord with no coils.
Epidemiology
The reported incidence of a straight cord is about 3.7-5% of all pregnancies.
Radiographic features
Ultrasound
- the entire length of the umbilical cord shows no evidence of coiling
Complications
- intrauterine death
- stillbirth
- fetal anomalies
- prematurity
- fetal distress
- intrapartum heart rate decelerations
- meconium staining
Treatment and prognosis
Some studies suggest that the presence of non-coiled umbilical cord places the fetus at a higher risk. It also suggests that the structural ability to resist external compressive forces is reduced .
See also
