Antepartum detection of cord presentation by transvaginal ultrasonography for term breech presentation: potential prediction and prevention of cord prolapse.

AIM

We evaluated the efficacy of antepartum screening for cord presentation by trans-vaginal ultrasonography (TVS) on predicting and preventing umbilical cord prolapse (UCP) in term breech delivery.

METHODS

We investigated every woman with a breech-presenting fetus for cord presentation by weekly TVS after 36 weeks of gestation since 1995. If the cord was found in advance of fetal presenting parts, we recommended her to undergo elective cesarean section to avoid UCP. We studied the incidence of cord presentation by TVS and the clinical courses of the cases with it for 198 women who delivered breech after 36 weeks from 1995 to 2005 (group A). Further, the incidence of UCP was compared between group A and another 230 women who delivered breech at term from 1983 to 1994 (group B).

RESULTS

Cord presentation was detected by TVS at least once in eight (4%) group A patients. Seven of them underwent elective cesarean section and, in six of these (86%), cord presentation was still found at the time of operation. The eighth patient became free of cord presentation at the later examinations and delivered vaginally without UCP. A hundred and twenty-one (61%) women in group A and 159 (69%) women in group B delivered vaginally. No UCP occurred in group A, while it occurred in 10 (4%) cases of group B (P < 0.01), and one baby died of it.

CONCLUSIONS

Detection of cord presentation by TVS has a potential to predict and reduce UCP in breech delivery at term.