Umbilical cord prolapse

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Overview & Risk Factors - The Dangling Danger

  • Obstetric Emergency: Umbilical cord descends ahead of the presenting fetal part, risking compression & fetal hypoxia.
  • Core Problem: Anything preventing the fetal presenting part from snugly engaging in the pelvis after membrane rupture.
  • Key Risk Factors:
    • Fetal: Malpresentation (breech, transverse), prematurity, multiple gestation (2nd twin).
    • Uterine/Pelvic: Polyhydramnios, unengaged presenting part.
    • Iatrogenic: Artificial rupture of membranes (AROM) with a high station.

High-Yield: The most common cause is iatrogenic, from artificial rupture of membranes (AROM) when the fetal head is high and not engaged in the pelvis.

Clinical Presentation & Diagnosis - Code Blue Cord

  • Hallmark Event: Sudden, severe fetal heart rate (FHR) changes immediately following rupture of membranes (ROM), either spontaneous or artificial.
  • Fetal Monitoring:
    • Abrupt, prolonged fetal bradycardia (e.g., <110 bpm for >2 min).
    • Severe, recurrent variable decelerations.
  • Definitive Diagnosis:
    • Made by direct sterile vaginal examination (SVE).
    • Palpation of a pulsating, rope-like structure (the umbilical cord) in the vagina or at the cervical os, ahead of the fetal presenting part.

⭐ The most common initial sign is a sudden, severe fetal bradycardia or the onset of severe, recurrent variable decelerations on fetal monitoring, especially after membrane rupture.

Fetal heart rate tracing: severe bradycardia, no recovery

Management - All Hands on Deck!

Immediate bedside actions to relieve cord compression while preparing for delivery.

  • Call for help! (Anesthesiology, NICU, OR staff).
  • Manually elevate the presenting part with a sterile-gloved hand. Keep hand in place until delivery.
  • Reposition mother: Knee-chest or deep Trendelenburg position.
  • Administer tocolytic (e.g., terbutaline 0.25 mg SC) to ↓ uterine contractions.
  • Discontinue oxytocin if being administered.

Pearl: The single most important initial step is to manually lift the fetal presenting part off the umbilical cord to restore fetal blood flow. This is a life-saving maneuver.

High‑Yield Points - ⚡ Biggest Takeaways

  • Umbilical cord prolapse is an obstetric emergency where the cord descends below the fetal presenting part.
  • It causes cord compression, leading to fetal hypoxia, anoxia, and potential demise.
  • The classic sign is sudden, severe fetal bradycardia or deep variable decelerations, typically after rupture of membranes.
  • Key risk factors include malpresentation (e.g., breech), an unengaged presenting part, and polyhydramnios.
  • Immediate management involves manually elevating the fetal head and placing the mother in the knee-chest position.
  • Emergency cesarean section is the definitive treatment.

Practice Questions: Umbilical cord prolapse

Test your understanding with these related questions

A 26-year-old primigravid woman at 39 weeks' gestation is admitted to the hospital in active labor. Pregnancy was complicated by mild oligohydramnios detected a week ago, which was managed with hydration. Her pulse is 92/min, respirations are 18/min, and blood pressure is 134/76 mm Hg. Pelvic examination shows 100% cervical effacement and 10 cm cervical dilation; the vertex is at 0 station. Cardiotocography is shown. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in management?

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Flashcards: Umbilical cord prolapse

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Placental _____ is the premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall (decidua) prior to delivery of fetus

TAP TO REVEAL ANSWER

Placental _____ is the premature separation of the placenta from the uterine wall (decidua) prior to delivery of fetus

abruption

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