title: Non-coiled umbilical blood vessels: a new marker for the fetus at risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the perinatal outcomes of fetuses born with non-coiled umbilical blood vessels.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a prospective study of umbilical cords that lacked umbilical vascular coiling. The perinatal outcomes were compared with those of neonates born with coiled umbilical blood vessels.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-eight (4.3%) of 894 fetuses were born with non-coiled umbilical vessels. The non-coiled group had a significantly increased incidence of intrauterine death (P = .009), preterm delivery (P = .006), repetitive intrapartum fetal heart rate decelerations (P < .00005), operative delivery for fetal distress (P < .00005), meconium staining (P = .007), and anatomical-karyotypic abnormalities (P = .03).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that the fetus with non-coiled (ie, straight) umbilical blood vessels is at increased risk for perinatal morbidity and mortality. Non-coiled umbilical vessels may represent a pathologic developmental process that places the fetus at risk. Moreover, absence of the normal coiled umbilical configuration may result in a cord that is structurally less able to resist external compressive forces.
authors.affiliation: Phoenix Perinatal Associates, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Arizona.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Strong
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Radin
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*