title: The relation between umbilical cord characteristics and the outcome of external cephalic version.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Umbilical cords of fetuses in breech presentation differ in length and coiling from their cephalic counterparts and it might be hypothesised that these cord characteristics may in turn affect ECV outcome.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relation between umbilical cord characteristics and the outcome of external cephalic version (ECV).
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women (>35 weeks gestation) with a singleton fetus in breech presentation, suitable for external cephalic version. Demographic, lifestyle and obstetrical parameters were assessed at intake. ECV success was based on cephalic presentation on ultrasound post-ECV. Umbilical cord length (UCL) and umbilical coiling index (UCI) were measured after birth.
  
  
  METHODS
  The relation between umbilical cord characteristics (cord length and coiling) and the success of external cephalic version.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ECV success rate was overall 79/146 (54%), for multiparas 37/46(80%) and for nulliparas 42/100 (42%). Multiple logistic regression showed that UCL (OR: 1.04, CI: 1.01-1.07), nulliparity (OR: 0.20, CI: 0.08-0.51), frank breech (OR: 0.37, 95% CI: 0.15-0.90), body mass index (OR: 0.85, CI: 0.76-0.95), placenta anterior (OR: 0.27, CI: 0.12-0.63) and birth weight (OR: 1.002, CI: 1.001-1.003) were all independently related to ECV success.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Umbilical cord length is independently related to the outcome of ECV, whereas umbilical coiling index is not.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Catharina Hospital, Eindhoven, The Netherlands. simone.kuppens@cze.nl
authors.forename: Simone M I
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kuppens
authors.forename: Evelyne R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Waerenburgh
authors.forename: Libbe
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kooistra
authors.forename: Riet W P
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: van der Donk
authors.forename: Tom H M
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Hasaart
authors.forename: Victor J M
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Pop
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight / Q000502:physiology; D001946:Breech Presentation / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016015:Logistic Models; D010298:Parity / Q000502:physiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014710:Version, Fetal / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards