Dubravko Habek, Jasna Cerkez Habek, Ante Barbir, Mira Barbir, Paula Granić
This study assessed perinatal outcome in pregnancies with accidentally diagnosed fetal grasping of the umbilical cord (FGUC) on ultrasonography (US) in late gestation as a possible cause of fetal hypoxia due to mechanical occlusion of umbilical circulation. In this retrospective clinical study, routine antenatal US examination revealed FGUC from 32 to 41 weeks of gestation in seven normal single pregnancies. Upon FGUC findings, fetal condition was followed up every second day by repeat US findings of FGUC, and then by Doppler parameters of fetoplacental circulation measurement of resistance index in umbilical artery (URI) and middle cerebral artery (CRI), and cardiotocography (CTG), and perinatal outcome (peripartal cardiotocography, 5-min Apgar score, umbilical arterial blood pH, occurrence of meconium amniotic fluid, need of additional treatment at neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), and mode of pregnancy termination (cesarean section, forceps or vacuum extraction-VE for hypoxia)...
October 2003: Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics