CORRELATION OF UMBILICAL CORD LENGTH WITH FOETAL AND MATERNAL OUTCOME.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The cord disposition and length of umbilical cord in the amniotic cavity remain unrecognised till the birth of the baby.Cord complications remain one of the major causes of foetal death. OBJECTIVES: To study 1. Length of umbilical cord in newborn babies 2. The outcome of pregnancy with abnormal length of umbilical cord 3. The relation between umbilical cord length and cord abnormalities 4. Relation between umbilical cord abnormalities and perinatal outcome METHODS: This study of 200 cases was carried out in S.R.T.R. Medical College, Ambajogai over a period of 6 months from Jan 2011 to Jun 2011. 100 cases belonged to control group (cord length 50-60 cm). Study group had short cord (i.e. cord length less than 50 cm) comprising 20 cases and long cord (i.e. cord length above 60 cm) comprising 80 cases. Apgar score at 1 and 5 minutes after birth were recorded. Birth weight and sex of all babies were noted. Number of loops of cord and position noted. Cord loop tight or loose noted (only for LSCS cases). RESULTS: Maximum numbers of cases were from age group 20-24 years. Parity was not found to affect cord length. Maximum cases (31.25%) of foetal distress were found in group with cord length more than 60 cm. Significantly low APGAR score at 5 mins noted in long cord group (15%) than control group. Cord length in control and study group in relation to the sex of the foetus was found to be statistically insignificant. 30 cases from long cord group required caesarean section and most of them for foetal distress. Cord entanglement (88.75%) was the most common complication in long cord group. CONCLUSION: Minimum observed cord length in this study was 28 cm and maximum cord length was 98 cm. There was no relation between maternal age, parity, sex of the foetus with the umbilical cord length. Cord abnormalities were observed in long cord group only. Higher percentage of caesarean section and perinatal mortality was more in long cord cases.