Unexpected stillbirth from umbilical cord hematoma

Background Umbilical cord hematomas (UCHs) can cause life-threatening outcomes, although extremely uncommon. They can lead to fetal distress and stillbirth. They have been observed in about 1:5500 pregnancies; they are associated with poor outcome in about the 50% of all cases. UCHs commonly occur d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of obstetrics and gynaecology of India Vol. 72; no. Suppl 2; pp. 392 - 394
Main Authors Lupariello, Francesco, Mattioda, Giuliana, Gaglioti, Pietro, Di Vella, Giancarlo
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New Delhi Springer India 01.12.2022
Subjects
Case Report
Gynecology
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery
Unexpected death
Autopsy
Umbilical cord hematoma
Stillbirth
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Summary:Background Umbilical cord hematomas (UCHs) can cause life-threatening outcomes, although extremely uncommon. They can lead to fetal distress and stillbirth. They have been observed in about 1:5500 pregnancies; they are associated with poor outcome in about the 50% of all cases. UCHs commonly occur due to rupture/lesion of umbilical vein’s walls, or less frequently of umbilical arteries’ ones. Case Report We present a case of a fetal demise which acutely and unexpectedly occurred in the last phases of labor. In this fetus, the identification of the cause of death was made only after post-mortem examination. The present report depicts the uncommon eventuality of umbilical cord hematomas which can cause unexpected fetal demise. Conclusion This case points out that in these cases careful examination of umbilical cord’s macroscopic/microscopic examination is fundamental to clarify the natural cause of fetal death for statistical purposes; to close parents’ mourning process; to ascertain medical malpractice claims.
ISSN:0971-9202
0975-6434
DOI:10.1007/s13224-022-01678-z