title: Impact of a prenatally diagnosed nuchal cord on obstetrical outcome in an unselected population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate the outcome of prenatally diagnosed nuchal cord.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study on all cases of prenatally diagnosed nuchal cord. Study end points were gestational age at delivery, intrapartum fetal heart rate (FHR) abnormalities, mode of delivery, intrauterine fetal growth retardation (IUGR), intrauterine fetal demise (IUFD), and the rate of labor induction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This study included 44 cases; 86% were diagnosed at second trimester scan, confirmed by Color Doppler and 3D ultrasound. Mean gestational age at delivery was 39 weeks.18/44 cases (41%) underwent labor induction mostly as a result of parental anxiety. Primary cesarean rate was 34% (15/44), and 16% (7/44) had intrapartum FHR abnormalities with no impact for induction of labor. Instrumental vaginal delivery was used in 5 cases. IUGR was present in 7% (3/44), and none had IUFD. Nuchal cord was confirmed at birth in all cases. Correct prenatal diagnosis was in only one case of the 5/44 (11%) with multiple loops.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prenatal diagnosis of nuchal cord is feasible with difficulty in determining multiple loops. Outcome is favorable, but parental anxiety is common and may increase induction rates, without leading to difference in cesarean rates or FHR abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: a Ob-Gyn Department, St Joseph University , Beirut , Lebanon.|b Hotel-Dieu De France University Hospital , Beirut , Lebanon , and.
authors.forename: Assaad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kesrouani
authors.affiliation: a Ob-Gyn Department, St Joseph University , Beirut , Lebanon.
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Daher
authors.affiliation: a Ob-Gyn Department, St Joseph University , Beirut , Lebanon.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maoula
authors.affiliation: a Ob-Gyn Department, St Joseph University , Beirut , Lebanon.|b Hotel-Dieu De France University Hospital , Beirut , Lebanon , and.
authors.forename: Elie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Attieh
authors.affiliation: b Hotel-Dieu De France University Hospital , Beirut , Lebanon , and.|c Psychiatry Department, St Joseph University , Beirut , Lebanon.
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Richa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D053589:Nuchal Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000523:psychology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Antenatal; fetal; induction; nuchal cord; ultrasound