Single umbilical artery and umbilical cord torsion leading to fetal death. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Intrauterine fetal death is a complication that cannot often be predicted by standard obstetric management. Cord accident may be responsible for about 5% of cases. Umbilical cord torsion is an extremely rare cause of intrauterine fetal death.


METHODS
An 18-year-old, nulliparous woman presented with a complaint of decreased fetal movement at 38 weeks' gestation. Intrauterine fetal death was diagnosed on ultrasound. The pathologic examination revealed umbilical cord torsion and confirmed a single umbilical artery that was diagnosed on ultrasound.


CONCLUSIONS
Umbilical cord torsion that leads to intrauterine fetal death is extremely rare. A pregnancy with a single umbilical artery may need fetal monitoring during the third trimester.
Hadar
Amnon
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel. hadaram@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
Hallak
Mordechai
M
D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000209:etiology; D005324:Fetal Movement; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D014102:Torsion Abnormality; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000473:pathology*