title: Does the nuchal cord persist? An ultrasound and  color-Doppler-based prospective study.
abstract: 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
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. dr_neenalal@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Neena
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lal
authors.forename: Deepika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Deka
authors.forename: Suneeta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mittal
mesh_terms: 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