Role of color flow Doppler ultrasonography in diagnosing velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord and vasa previa. A report of two cases.
BACKGROUND
Prenatal diagnosis of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord is of practical importance since unsupported vessels in the amnion may be lacerated at the time of membrane rupture. Failure to diagnose ruptured vessels may lead to fetal death. The incidence of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord is about 1% in singleton pregnancies. This mode of insertion occurs much more frequently with multifetal pregnancies.


METHODS
Two cases of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord unrelated to vasa previa were diagnosed prenatally with color Doppler ultrasound in women with twin gestations. Both women delivered uneventfully by cesarean section. The velamentous insertion diagnosis was confirmed postnatally in both cases.


CONCLUSIONS
Color flow Doppler ultrasonography can be used in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy to identify potentially lethal structural abnormalities of the umbilical cord.
Raga
F
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Clinico Universitario, University of Valencia School of Medicine, Spain.
Ballester
M J
MJ
Osborne
N G
NG
Bonilla-Musoles
F
F
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple; D014427:Twins; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*