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Background: (1) The aim of this article is to describe the physiopathology underlying umbilical cord diseases and their relationship with obstetric and perinatal outcomes. (2) Methods: Multicenter case series of umbilical cord diseases with illustrations from contributing institutions are presented. (3) Results: Clinical presentations of prenatal ultrasound findings, clinical prenatal features and postnatal outcomes are described. (4) Conclusions: Analysis of our series presents and discusses how umbilical cord diseases are associated with a wide variety of obstetric complications leading to a higher risk of poor perinatal outcomes in pregnancies. Knowing the physiopathology, prenatal clinical presentations and outcomes related to umbilical diseases allow for better prenatal counseling and management to potentially avoid severe obstetric and perinatal complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: (1) The aim of this article is to describe the physiopathology underlying umbilical cord diseases and their relationship with obstetric and perinatal outcomes. (2) Methods: Multicenter case series of umbilical cord diseases with illustrations from contributing institutions are presented. (3) Results: Clinical presentations of prenatal ultrasound findings, clinical prenatal features and postnatal outcomes are described. (4) Conclusions: Analysis of our series presents and discusses how umbilical cord diseases are associated with a wide variety of obstetric complications leading to a higher risk of poor perinatal outcomes in pregnancies. Knowing the physiopathology, prenatal clinical presentations and outcomes related to umbilical diseases allow for better prenatal counseling and management to potentially avoid severe obstetric and perinatal complications.

Introduction: Perinatal outcome of new-borns is greatly influenced by abnormalities of placenta and umbilical cord. In most of the deliveries, whether home or institutional, the placenta and umbilical cords are discarded without examination. Due to paucity of information on abnormalities of placenta and cord, there is hardly any correlation with foetal outcomes. The aim was to study the correlation between the foetal outcome and the different types of abnormalities of placenta and umbilical cord. Materials and Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, randomised study was conducted from January 2016 to December 2016 in a tertiary care hospital in North India. The study was carried out on 1000 term singleton newborns. The placenta and umbilical cords were obtained from both normal and caesarean section deliveries. A proforma was used to gather data from the patients and new-borns. Statistical analysis was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, IBM version) along with Microsoft Excel (2010 version). Results: One thousand placentae and umbilical cords were examined of which high placental weight/birth weight ratio, gross anomalies of placenta (infarctions, calcifications and retro placental haematoma), marginal (battledore and velamentous) umbilical cord insertions, long umbilical cords and single umbilical artery were associated with negative foetal outcomes. Conclusions: There was a high incidence of adverse foetal outcome with placental and umbilical cord abnormalities. Education of our health personnel dealing with deliveries on the importance of proper examination of the placenta and umbilical cords should be emphasised and instituted upon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The advances in Obstetric ultrasonography have allowed early and accurate detection of anomalies in utero. Umbilical cord anomalies may include cysts, vascular anomalies and masses. Cysts detected in first trimester are mostly transient and the children are born normal. If detected in second or third trimester, the risk of fetal anomalies are high, and warrants a chromosomal analysis. We present a case report where antenatally cord cyst was detected in second trimester, with the fetus progressing to have oligohydramnios and Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). The neonate was born with Edward syndrome.

Umbilical cord abnormalities have an increased incidence and are often associated with structural or chromosomal abnormalities or deficient placentation. The persistent right umbilical vein is frequently associated with other life-threatening malformations. A four-vessel cord has been noted in normal neonates, but also in neonates with multiple congenital anomalies, and it is a common finding in conjoined twins. Single umbilical artery is associated with other fetal malformations and with growth restriction or abnormal karyotype. Excessive spiraling of a very long umbilical cord is often present in cases of unexplained fetal demise. Umbilical artery aneurysm is highly associated with trisomy 18, single umbilical artery, cardiac anomalies and intrauterine fetal death. Fetal intraabdominal umbilical vein varix has been associated with a high incidence of fetal anomalies and obstetric complications. More than 20% of umbilical cord cysts are associated with fetal chromosomal or structural defects. Velamentous umbilical cord insertion occurs in approximately 1% of singleton gestations, but it is more common in monochorionic twin gestations, in placenta praevia and in stillbirth cases, particularly from multiple pregnancies. True knot of the umbilical cord is a rare occurrence, which is difficult to diagnose antenatally; the constriction of the umbilical cord may lead to obstruction of the fetal circulation and subsequent intrauterine death. This paper reviews the most important aspects of the structural abnormalities of the umbilical cord, as determined by prenatal ultrasound, highlighting the experience of a very important obstetrics and gynecology department of Romania over the past five years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]