Nuchal cord detected by ultrasound at term is associated with mode of delivery and perinatal outcome

Abstract

Objectives To evaluate the clinical relevance of nuchal cord in normal, vertex, singleton pregnancies at term, and its effect on mode of delivery and perinatal outcome. Study design Prospective study with 352 normal, singleton pregnancies, with fetuses in the vertex presentation, examined with real-time ultrasound at 37–39 weeks. Health care workers at labour and delivery blinded to previous detection of nuchal cord. Results Fetuses of nulliparous women with a nuchal cord were more likely to be delivered with operative vaginal or caesarean delivery ( n = 153, p < 0.0001). This was not the case with higher parity ( n = 199, p = 0.07). There was no difference between nuchal cord ( n = 144) and control groups ( n = 208) in amniotic fluid quantity at 37–39 weeks ( p = 0.554) or intrapartum CTG ( p = 0.9). On the other hand, nuchal cord group had lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min ( p = 0.001 and 0.027 respectively); this difference remained significant when adjusted for birth weight ( p = 0.001 and 0.016), but disappeared when adjusted for mode of delivery ( p = 0.048 and 0.319). Conclusions Nuchal cord in normal pregnancies at term is associated with increased rate of operative vaginal and caesarean delivery in nulliparae. The presence of a nuchal cord results in slightly lower Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min, mainly as a consequence of higher operative delivery rates.