Non-coiled umbilical blood vessels: a new marker for the fetus at risk.

Objective: To evaluate the perinatal outcomes of fetuses born with non-coiled umbilical blood vessels. Methods: We performed a prospective study of umbilical cords that lacked umbilical vascular coiling. The perinatal outcomes were compared with those of neonates born with coiled umbilical blood vessels. Results: Thirty-eight (4.3%) of 894 fetuses were born with non-coiled umbilical vessels. The non-coiled group had a significantly increased incidence of intrauterine death (P=.009), preterm delivery (P=.006), repetitive intrapartum fetal heart rate decelerations (P<.00005), operative delivery for fetal distress (P<.00005), meconium staining (P=.007), and anatomical-karyotypic abnormalities (P=.03)