[Prolapse of the umbilical cord--an intrapartum emergency situation].

There were 37 cases of prolapse of the umbilical cord among 16 177 deliveries (incidence of 0,2%). Therapy is firstly knee-chest positioning of the mother, control of fetal heart rate and acute tokolysis, secondly rapid delivery. The perinatal mortality of prolapsed cord was 13,5 per cent. Various methods of delivery are analysed.