Abstract
Objective:To seek relationship between cord problems (like long cords, short cords, nuchal cord and cord knots)
and its effects on fetus as well as mode of delivery.
Study Design: Descriptive (case series)
Place and Duration of Study: Obs/Gynae wards Railway hospital, Rawalpindi from September 2006 to August
2007.
Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive case series study. Hundred patients with umbilical cord problems,
detected at delivery were included.Effects of these cord problems on mode of delivery and fetal outcome were
observed.
Results: Twenty two percent patients had long cord, 14% had short cords.41% had single nuchal cord, 22% had
double loop of cord around the neck, and 4% patients had triple loops of Nuchal cord. It was observed that 4%
patients were having true kanots in umbilical cord and and only 26% patients had false knots in umbilical cord. In
the patients with cord problems, rate of SVD was more than 70% and LSCS < 20%. These problems did not
show significant effects on birth weight and Apgar scores when present alone.But multiple cord problems in a
single pregnancy were associated with fetal complications.
Conclusion: Long and short umbilical cords, umbilical cord knots and Nuchal cords had no significant effects on
mode of delivery and Apgar score in 5 minutes. But multiple umbilical cord problems in same case may pose
problems to the fetus and early diagnosis can prevent fetal harm.
