Umbilical cord hernias: prenatal diagnosis and natural history.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to describe the characteristics and outcomes of umbilical cord hernias diagnosed prenatally.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective study of all pregnancies with the diagnosis of a fetal umbilical cord hernia during a 5-year period. All women received care from a multidisciplinary team and underwent complete meticulous sonography for structural malformations as well as fetal echocardiography and amniocentesis.

RESULTS

Between 2004 and 2009, isolated fetal umbilical cord hernias were diagnosed in 8 pregnant women. The gestational ages at the time of referral ranged from 16 to 28 weeks (median, 20 weeks). In 1 case, intrauterine fetal death occurred at 35 weeks due to rupture of the umbilical cord. All remaining cases were delivered at 36 to 40 weeks, and the neonates underwent corrective surgery with good outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite 1 case complicated by intrauterine fetal death in this study, the outcome of an isolated fetal umbilical hernia seems favorable.