Fetal outcome following umbilical cord prolapse in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Kaduna (ABUTHK), northern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND

Umbilical cord is a clinical condition that calls for emergency decision making and action especially with a live and mature fetus. The objective of this study is to determine, fetal outcome and how various factors influence it.

METHODS

This is a 12 1/2 year retrospective study of all 34 fetuses who suffered from cord prolapse at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital.

RESULTS

There were 34 cases of cord prolapse, 23 perinatal deaths and a perinatal mortality rate of 67.64%. About 55% of babies of registered women died, while about 92% of the unregistered died. Eleven babies of the 22 women admitted with cervical dilatations of 7 cm and less, died and all the babies of women with cervical dilatations of 8 cm and above died. All 19 babies delivered vaginally and 3 of the 14 delivered abdominally, died. About eighty eight percent of the low-birth weight, and 37.5% of normal size babies died. Seventeen (51.5%) of the 33 babies delivered, had Apgar score 0. All babies with Apgar scores 1-4 died, 40% with Apgar scores 5-7 and 16.7% with Apgar scores 8-10 died. Maternal age, parity, ethnicity, gestational age, presentation and sex of the fetus did not influence outcome.