BACKGROUND: Prenatal diagnosis of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord is of practical importance since unsupported vessels in the amnion may be lacerated at the time of membrane rupture. Failure to diagnose ruptured vessels may lead to fetal death. The incidence of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord is about 1% in singleton pregnancies. This mode of insertion occurs much more frequently with multifetal pregnancies. CASES: Two cases of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord unrelated to vasa previa were diagnosed prenatally with color Doppler ultrasound in women with twin gestations. Both women delivered uneventfully by cesarean section. The velamentous insertion diagnosis was confirmed postnatally in both cases. CONCLUSION: Color flow Doppler ultrasonography can be used in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy to identify potentially lethal structural abnormalities of the umbilical cord.
BACKGROUND: Prenatal diagnosis of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord is of practical importance since unsupported vessels in the amnion may be lacerated at the time of membrane rupture. Failure to diagnose ruptured vessels may lead to fetal death. The incidence of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord is about 1% in singleton pregnancies. This mode of insertion occurs much more frequently with multifetal pregnancies. CASES: Two cases of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord unrelated to vasa previa were diagnosed prenatally with color Doppler ultrasound in women with twin gestations. Both women delivered uneventfully by cesarean section. The velamentous insertion diagnosis was confirmed postnatally in both cases. CONCLUSION: Color flow Doppler ultrasonography can be used in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy to identify potentially lethal structural abnormalities of the umbilical cord.
Authors: Jeanne Hortence Fouedjio; Florent Ymele Fouelifack; Maximilien Deutcho; Philip Nana Njotang; Robinson Mbu Enow; Robert John Ivo Leke Journal: Pan Afr Med J Date: 2014-01-27