Can it really predict prior to delivery? A new ultrasonographic method for prediction of short and long umbilical cords in full-term pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to ultrasonographically determine the presence of short and long umbilical cords in full-term, uncomplicated pregnancies before delivery.

Methods: A total of 681 pregnant women aged between 18 and 35 years who had a single pregnancy and an intact amniotic membrane, and who were past the 37th week of gestation, were included. Umbilical cord lengths were ultrasonographically evaluated using a new method, and were compared with postnatal umbilical cord length.

Results: The mean index values for short, normal, and long umbilical cords were 2.96, 5.36, and 6.98, respectively. The cut-off index value for a short umbilical cord was 3.75 and the sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 67 and 97%, respectively, for a value ≤3, and as 92 and 80%, respectively, for a value ≤4. The cut-off index value was 6.25 for a long umbilical cord and the sensitivity and specificity were calculated as 75 and 78%, respectively, for a value ≥6, and as 85 and 64%, respectively, for a value ≥6.5.

Conclusions: Calculation of the umbilical cord length index is a new ultrasonographic method that can be easily used to predict short and long umbilical cords during routine amniotic fluid evaluation in full-term pregnancies.

Keywords:

• Amniotic fluid evaluation
• four-quadrant technique
• umbilical coiling
• umbilical cord length index
• uncomplicated pregnancies

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

This study did not receive any specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.