Implementation of a simple method to measure total umbilical cord length.

Area of Science:

• Perinatology
• Neonatal care
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Umbilical cord (UC) alterations are linked to adverse fetal and neonatal outcomes.
• Abnormal UC length is a significant risk factor for complications.
• Accurate UC measurement is challenging during urgent medical interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a novel, rapid method for measuring umbilical cord length.
• To validate a new UC length measurement technique at San Ignacio University Hospital (HUSI).

Main Methods:

• An observational study was conducted.
• A new, rapid UC length measurement protocol was implemented and described.

Main Results:

• The new UC length measurement method was rapidly adopted by HUSI obstetricians and pediatricians.
• No delays in maternal or neonatal care were reported following the implementation of the new method.

Conclusions:

• Complete UC length data registration is recommended due to its association with complications.
• The developed rapid method enables precise UC length measurement during critical interventions, ensuring both patient care and data accuracy.