Does the nuchal cord persist? An ultrasound and  color-Doppler-based prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To study the persistence of nuchal cord by ultrasound at various periods of gestation.


METHODS
Ultrasound was done on 200 consecutive pregnant women and nuchal cord was documented at 18-20, 30-32 and 36-38 weeks' gestation.


RESULTS
The incidence of nuchal cord was 6% at 18-20 weeks, 7.5% at 30-32 weeks, 26.5% at 36-38 weeks and 28% at birth. The persistence of nuchal cord was 8.3% from 18 to 20 to 30-32 weeks, 26.6% from 30-32 to 36-38 weeks and 84.9% from 36-38 weeks to delivery. Using the Friedman test, the change in the presence of nuchal cord was significant (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Nuchal cord keeps appearing and disappearing over time. Its
Lal
Neena
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. dr_neenalal@yahoo.com
Deka
Deepika
D
Mittal
Suneeta
S
D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D053589:Nuchal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal