Related Experiment Videos
Venous flow through coiled and noncoiled umbilical cords. Effects of external compression, twisting and longitudinal
G M Dado1, P B Dobrin, R S Mrkvicka
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA.
Objective:
To examine the association between umbilical cord coiling and perinatal morbidity.
Study Design:
Ten umbilical cord segments, six coiled and four noncoiled, were categorized according to Strong's coiling index and were examined experimentally. The umbilical arteries and vein were perfused, pressurized, placed in a saline bath at 37 degrees C and subjected to compression, twisting and stretching while measuring venous flow.
Results:
There was no statistically significant difference in umbilical venous flow between coiled and noncoiled cords when external compression, twisting and longitudinal stretching were applied to the cord segments.
Conclusion:
Differences in morbidity associated with umbilical cord coiling should not be attributed simply to mechanical factors, and other mechanisms should be sought.