Year: 2025 | Month: September | Volume: 15 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 375-380
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20250941
A Prospective Study of Umbilical Cord Coiling Index by Ultrasonography at Term Gestation and Perinatal Outcome
Dr. Rita D1, Dr. Ravikiran2
1Professor and HOD, 2Junior Resident, Department of OBG,
Navodaya Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, Rajiv Gandhi University, Raichur, Karnataka, India.
Corresponding Author: Dr. Ravikiran
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: At term pregnancy, the umbilical cord plays a vital role in protecting fetal blood flow. A significant anatomical feature of the umbilical cord is the spiral or coiled pattern of its blood vessels, which starts forming by day 28 of gestation and is seen in 95% of fetuses by 9 weeks.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF STUDY: The present study was aimed to assess Umbilical cord coiling index at term using ultrasonography and to correlate it with perinatal outcomes.
METHODS: The prenatal umbilical coiling index (UCI), calculated as the reciprocal of the distance (in cm) between two adjacent coils (UCI = 1/distance). Based on the Umbilical cord coiling index, the umbilical cord classified as: Normocoiled: UCI ≈ 0.4, Hypocoiled: UCI < 0.2, Hypercoiled: UCI > 0.6. Perinatal outcomes assessed were meconium staining, Mode of delivery, Birth weight, Ponderal index, Apgar score, NICU admission.
RESULTS: Hypercoiled cords (9%) compared with normocoiled (80%) were significantly associated with higher incidence of cesarean delivery, Low Birth weight, Low Ponderal indices. Hypocoiled cords (11%) compared with normocoiled (80%) were significantly associated with meconium staining, Apgar score, increased NICU admissions.
CONCLUSION: Ultrasonographic evaluation of UCI at term gestation served as an important tool to predict adverse perinatal outcomes. Early detection of Hypercoiled and hypocoiled patterns allowed timely obstetric interventions and to reduce neonatal morbidity, mortality and NICU admissions.
Key words: Normocoiled, Hypercoiled, Hypocoiled, Umbilical coiling index, Meconium staining