A retrospective single centre review of the incidence and prognostic significance of persistent foetal right umbilical vein

Abstract

The objective of our study was to appraise the incidence and significance of persistent right umbilical vein (PRUV), the most common foetal venous aberration. Based on a south Indian antenatal cohort, we identified 23 cases of PRUV amongst 20,452 foetuses of consecutive pregnancies, from 2009 to 2014, yielding an incidence of 1 in 889 total births (0.11%). The median maternal age was 24 (IQR, 22–26) years, and median gestational age at diagnosis was 23 (IQR, 22–24) weeks. Intrahepatic drainage of PRUV was seen in 91.3% cases. In three cases (13%), ductus venosus was absent. In 52.2% of the cases, additional major abnormalities were observed – predominantly cardiovascular (39.1%). The common minor marker was single umbilical artery (13%). The karyotype was found to be normal in six cases (26%) which underwent invasive testing. When associated anomalies were inconsequential or absent, the postnatal outcome was good, which reflected in 60.9% of our cases.

Keywords:

• Absent ductus venosus
• conotruncal cardiac anomaly
• extrahepatic umbilical vein
• persistent right umbilical vein
• foetal echocardiography
• foetal venous aberration

Acknowledgements

We express gratitude to all our antenatal mothers and their family members, who wholeheartedly cooperated with us during data collection.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.