Umbilical Cord Prolapse: A Review of the Literature

Umbilical cord prolapse is a rare occurrence and is a life-threatening emergency for the fetus. These events are unpredictable and unpreventable. Umbilical cord prolapse requires swift diagnosis and management for optimal outcome.

The aim of this review is to describe the incidence, risk factor, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of this rare but potentially life-threatening event.

A PubMed, Web of Science, and CINAHL search was undertaken with no limitations on the number of years searched.

There were 200 articles identified, with 53 being the basis of review. Multiple risk factors for a umbilical cord prolapse have been suggested including fetal malpresentation or abnormal lie, prematurity, multifetal gestation, and polyhydramnios. The diagnosis is largely made by examination and found after rupture of membranes, and most often, examination is prompted by fetal heart rate decelerations. The management of umbilical cord prolapse is expedited delivery; however, there are rare specific scenarios in which immediate delivery is not possible and efforts should be made to relieve cord compression.

Rapid identification of an umbilical cord prolapse facilitates management and increases likelihood of an optimal outcome. The management is an expedited delivery with efforts to relieve cord compression until delivery can be achieved.

Umbilical cord prolapse is a rare but a life-threatening obstetrical emergency.