Giant umbilical cord with impending heart failure—Prognostic significance of prenatal ultrasound

Abstract

Detection of giant umbilical cord prenatally should lead to vigilant monitoring particularly at term as fetal demise is a possibility, as noted in the present case because of altered hemodynamics and related vascular complications such as compromised fetal circulation. A case of prenatally diagnosed, giant umbilical cord with fetoplacental insufficiency and impending heart failure is reported. An 18‐year‐old primigravida, presented at 34 weeks of gestational age with complaints of acute onset abdominal pain. Fetal umbilical artery obstetric Doppler examination demonstrated reversal of diastolic flow. 2D echocardiography demonstrated dilated all 4 chambers of the heart with reduced contractility suggesting impending heart failure. Subsequently, fetal demise was noted after 2 days, and labour was induced followed by vaginal delivery of the dead fetus. A giant umbilical cord was seen at delivery with absent knots or strictures. This case report deserves a special mention as there were no earlier reported cases of giant umbilical cord in literature presenting with impending heart failure and fetal demise. We have presented the detailed clinical course of the fetus with giant umbilical cord along with a review of the related literature.