Umbilical cord compression: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 15:42, 9 February 2025

Umbilical Cord Compression

Umbilical cord compression is a condition during pregnancy or labor where the umbilical cord becomes compressed, reducing or obstructing blood flow from the placenta to the fetus. This can lead to decreased oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus, potentially causing fetal distress.

Causes

Umbilical cord compression can occur due to several reasons:

**Nuchal cord**: This occurs when the umbilical cord wraps around the fetus's neck.
**Cord prolapse**: This happens when the umbilical cord slips ahead of the presenting part of the fetus during delivery.
**Oligohydramnios**: A condition characterized by low amniotic fluid, which can increase the risk of cord compression.
**Knots in the umbilical cord**: True knots can form in the umbilical cord, potentially leading to compression.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Symptoms of umbilical cord compression may include:

Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns, such as decelerations.
Decreased fetal movement.

Diagnosis is typically made through fetal monitoring, which can detect changes in the fetal heart rate that suggest compression.

Management

Management of umbilical cord compression depends on the severity and timing:

**Repositioning the mother**: Changing the mother's position can sometimes relieve pressure on the cord.
**Amnioinfusion**: This procedure involves infusing saline into the amniotic sac to relieve pressure on the cord.
**Emergency delivery**: In severe cases, an emergency cesarean section may be necessary to deliver the baby quickly.

Prognosis

The prognosis for umbilical cord compression varies. Mild cases may resolve without intervention, while severe cases can lead to complications such as hypoxia or cerebral palsy. Early detection and management are crucial to improving outcomes.

Related Pages

References

American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "Umbilical Cord Accidents." Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 130, no. 2, 2017, pp. 1-5.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-'''Umbilical cord compression''' is a medical condition that occurs when the [[umbilical cord]] becomes compressed, usually due to the cord becoming wrapped around the baby's neck or body, or due to the cord being pinched between the baby's body and the mother's pelvic bones. This can lead to a decrease in blood flow to the baby, which can cause a variety of health problems.
+== Umbilical Cord Compression ==
-==Causes==
+[[Umbilical cord compression]] is a condition during pregnancy or labor where the umbilical cord becomes compressed, reducing or obstructing blood flow from the placenta to the fetus. This can lead to decreased oxygen and nutrient delivery to the fetus, potentially causing fetal distress.
-Umbilical cord compression can be caused by a number of factors. These include:
-* [[Nuchal cord]]: This is when the umbilical cord becomes wrapped around the baby's neck. This can occur during pregnancy or during labor and delivery.
+=== Causes ===
-* [[Cord prolapse]]: This is when the umbilical cord drops (prolapses) into the vagina ahead of the baby during labor. This can cause the cord to become compressed as the baby moves down into the birth canal.
-* [[Oligohydramnios]]: This is a condition in which there is not enough amniotic fluid surrounding the baby in the womb. This can cause the umbilical cord to become compressed.
-==Symptoms==
+Umbilical cord compression can occur due to several reasons:
-The main symptom of umbilical cord compression is a decrease in the baby's heart rate during labor and delivery. This can be detected by a [[fetal heart rate monitor]]. Other symptoms can include:
-* Changes in the baby's movement patterns
+* **[[Nuchal cord]]**: This occurs when the umbilical cord wraps around the fetus's neck.
-* Decreased fetal activity
+* **[[Cord prolapse]]**: This happens when the umbilical cord slips ahead of the presenting part of the fetus during delivery.
-* Abnormal results on a [[nonstress test]] or [[biophysical profile]]
+* **[[Oligohydramnios]]**: A condition characterized by low amniotic fluid, which can increase the risk of cord compression.
+* **[[Knots in the umbilical cord]]**: True knots can form in the umbilical cord, potentially leading to compression.
-==Treatment==
+[[File:Knotted_cord.jpg|thumb|right|A knotted umbilical cord, which can lead to compression.]]
-Treatment for umbilical cord compression depends on the severity of the compression and the stage of pregnancy. Treatment options can include:
-* [[Emergency cesarean section]]: If the baby's heart rate drops significantly and does not recover, an emergency cesarean section may be necessary.
+=== Symptoms and Diagnosis ===
-* [[Amnioinfusion]]: This is a procedure in which a saline solution is injected into the uterus to increase the amount of amniotic fluid. This can help to relieve pressure on the umbilical cord.
-* [[Cordocentesis]]: This is a procedure in which a sample of the baby's blood is taken from the umbilical cord to check for signs of distress or infection.
-==See also==
+Symptoms of umbilical cord compression may include:
-* [[Birth asphyxia]]
+* Abnormal fetal heart rate patterns, such as decelerations.
+* Decreased fetal movement.
+Diagnosis is typically made through fetal monitoring, which can detect changes in the fetal heart rate that suggest compression.
+=== Management ===
+Management of umbilical cord compression depends on the severity and timing:
+* **Repositioning the mother**: Changing the mother's position can sometimes relieve pressure on the cord.
+* **Amnioinfusion**: This procedure involves infusing saline into the amniotic sac to relieve pressure on the cord.
+* **Emergency delivery**: In severe cases, an emergency cesarean section may be necessary to deliver the baby quickly.
+=== Prognosis ===
+The prognosis for umbilical cord compression varies. Mild cases may resolve without intervention, while severe cases can lead to complications such as [[hypoxia]] or [[cerebral palsy]]. Early detection and management are crucial to improving outcomes.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Umbilical cord]]
 * [[Fetal distress]]
-* [[Intrauterine growth restriction]]
+* [[Labor and delivery]]
+== References ==
+* American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. "Umbilical Cord Accidents." Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 130, no. 2, 2017, pp. 1-5.
 [[Category:Obstetrics]]
-[[Category:Neonatology]]
+[[Category:Pregnancy complications]]
-[[Category:Medical emergencies]]
-{{stub}}