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Biphasic Postnatal Umbilical Cord Shortening.
Elizabeth A Manci1, Sejal Shah Alvarez2, Steven B McClellan3
1Department of Pathology, University of South Alabama Children's and Women's Hospital, Mobile, Alabama.
Summary
Umbilical cord length changes post-delivery, with initial shortening followed by stabilization between 3-4 hours and again after 23 hours. Predictive models are developed for estimating original cord length.
Area of Science:
- Perinatology
- Biomedical Engineering
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Background:
- Postnatal changes in umbilical cord length are not well understood.
- Refrigerated, unfixed umbilical cords exhibit variations in length over time.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the natural changes in umbilical cord length after severance.
- To determine periods of length stability in refrigerated, unfixed umbilical cords.
- To develop predictive models for original umbilical cord length at delivery.
Main Methods:
- Length measurements of 132 umbilical cords were taken at various intervals post-severance.
- Analysis of variance and regression analysis were employed to study length variations.
- Two predictive models were derived based on post-delivery length and time elapsed.
Main Results:
- An initial rapid shortening phase (mean 4.2 cm) was observed, followed by an interval of lengthening.
- Cord lengths stabilized between 3-4 hours post-severance and again after 23 hours.
- Significant net mean decrease of 3.49 cm was recorded, with greatest shortening in long, intact cords.
- Predictive models for original umbilical cord length (OL) were established.
Conclusions:
- Umbilical cord length stabilizes at 3-4 hours and post-23 hours after severance.
- Phase one shortening may relate to vasoconstriction; phase two to rigor mortis.
- The developed models accurately predict original umbilical cord length irrespective of measurement time.
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