Furcate insertion of the umbilical cord: pathological and clinical characteristics in 132 cases
-
Philipp Kosian
,
Wolfgang Henrich
Abstract
Objectives
Furcate cord insertion is a rare abnormality affecting approximately 0.1% of all pregnancies. Macroscopically, the umbilical vessels separate before reaching the placenta, lose their Wharton’s jelly, and insert at the placenta centrally, eccentrically, or marginally. The aim of this retrospective study was to determine the prevalence of furcate cord insertion more accurately, the pathological characteristics, and clinical outcomes.
Methods
We conducted a retrospective study of 132 cases of furcate insertion of the umbilical cord using the pathological database of the Charité University Hospital Berlin, Germany, between 1993 and 2016. This included 99 cases, including one termination of pregnancy within our institution and 33 cases from external hospitals. An analysis of the pathological features of the 132 cases and the perinatal outcome of the 98 cases within our institution were performed.
Results
Furcate cord insertion occurred in 0.16% pregnancies. Of the 132 cases, seven cases of intrauterine fetal deaths were observed. Three of those could be linked to the furcate cord insertion. In two of those cases, single umbilical vessel rupture was identified as the cause of fetal death.
Conclusions
In most cases of furcate cord insertion, the outcome is good; however, intrauterine fetal death occurs in approximately 1.02% of cases.
Research funding: None declared.
Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission.
Competing interests: Authors state no conflict of interest.
Informed consent: Informed consent was obtained from all individuals included in this study.
Ethical approval: The local Institutional Review Board deemed the study exempt from review.
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Articles in the same Issue
- Frontmatter
- Review
- What is known and what remains unresolved regarding gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)
- Corner of Academy
- Stillbirth and subsequent pregnancy outcome – a cohort from a large tertiary referral hospital
- Postmortem examination protocol and systematic re-evaluation reduce the proportion of unexplained stillbirths
- Original Articles – Obstetrics
- The first-trimester serum decorin levels as a potential predictor of preeclampsia
- Increased of the carotid intima media thickness in preeclampsia
- Maternal and neonatal outcomes among pregnant women with myasthenia gravis
- The effect of an oxytocin washout period on blood loss at cesarean delivery
- Clinical analysis of the preoperative condition and operative prognosis of post-cesarean section scar diverticulum: a case series
- Prolonged interpregnancy interval: how does it impact the length of second stage of labor?
- Furcate insertion of the umbilical cord: pathological and clinical characteristics in 132 cases
- Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and placental abnormalities
- Pregnancy, oral health and dental education: an overview on the northeast of Italy
- Impact of an on-site perinatal mood disorders clinic in the diagnosis and management of perinatal mood disorders
- Original Articles – Newborn
- C-reactive protein as a predictor of meningitis in early onset neonatal sepsis: a single unit experience
- Short Communication
- Pharmaco-vigilance of oral MethylErgometrine prescriptions for delayed and secondary postpartum haemorrhage
