ASSOCIATION BETWEEN UMBILICAL COILING INDEX AND ADVERSE PERINATAL OUTCOME

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The coiling of component blood vessels is one of the most mysterious characteristics of the human umbilical cord. Umbilical coiling index (UCI) is dened as the total number of coils divided by the total length of the cord in centimeters. Most of the published studies categorize umbilical cords as hypocoiled, normocoiled and hypercoiled. The presence of hypocoiling and hypercoiling in cords has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. (i) To study association AIM AND OBJECTIVES: of UCI with perinatal outcome in normal as well as high risk pregnancies like PIH, GDM, eclampsia, previous LSCS and elderly mothers. (ii) To study association of UCI with mode of delivery, birth weight, Apgar score at 1 minute and 5 minutes, meconium staining, intrauterine growth restriction and neonatal intensive care unit admission. Observational study w METHODS: as carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Department of Pediatrics, AIMSR, Bathinda. Patients were selected consecutively as and when they presented to hospital applying inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of 200 cases, normocoiling was seen RESULTS: in 135 patients (67.50%), hypocoiling in 42 patients (21%) and hypercoiling in 23 patients (11.50%). The mean UCI in our study was 0.164 ± 0.135. Hypocoiling is signicantly associated with preeclampsia, low Apgar score at 1 minute and 5 minute, meconium stained liquor and increased NICU admissions while hypercoiling is associated with diabetes mellitus, increased LSCS and assisted vaginal deliveries, low Apgar score at 1 minute, meconium stained liquor, intrauterine growth restriction and increased NICU admissions. Both hypocoiling and hyperc CONCLUSION: oiling has signicant association with adverse fetal outcome. Therefore, detection of coiling index postnatally or antenatally can identify babies at risk and thus helps in further management.