Cord presentation or prolapse occurs when the umbilical cord descends through the birth canal before or with the fetus. This can compromise blood flow through the cord and oxygen to the fetus. The document discusses definitions, types, risk factors, diagnosis, and management of cord presentation and prolapse. Management involves preventing cord compression, assessing the fetus, and prompt delivery, usually via emergency cesarean section within 30 minutes for overt prolapse or if vaginal delivery is not imminent. Fetal and neonatal care is also important given the risks of hypoxia.

1. MRS. SONY SARA P.J
ASSO. PROFESSOR
MSC (N),OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGICAL NURSING
GANGA COLLEGE OF NURSING
COIMBATORE

3. CONTENT OVERVIEW
Introduction
Definition
Types
Incidence and Epidemiology
Risk Factors
Consequences
Diagnosis
Prevention
Management
Management in Community Setting
Prognosis
Conclusion

4. INTRODUCTION
Cord presentation or cord prolapse can occur in any
situation where the presenting part does not fit well
into the maternal pelvis. In the case of cord
presentation and prolapse, blood flow through the
umbilical vessels may be compromised from the
compression of the cord between the fetus and the
uterus, cervix or pelvic inlet.

5. Where cord prolapse has occurred the cord is
vulnerable to compression, umbilical vein occlusion, and
umbilical artery vasospasm, which can compromise fetal
oxygenation.
Cord prolapse is a life threatening obstetric
emergency that may result in fetal asphyxia or death.
Caesarean section is the safest birth option for the viable
fetus, especially in the first and early second stage of
labour.
INTRODUCTION

6. DEFINITIONS
• Cord Presentation
The presence of the umbilical cord between the cervix
and the fetal presenting part with or without intact
membranes.
• Cord Prolapse
The decent of the umbilical cord through the cervix and
alongside the presenting part (Occult Cord Prolapse) or
past the presenting part (Overt Cord Prolapse) in the
presence of ruptured membranes.

8. TYPES
Occult cord prolapse
• Cord is adjacent to the presenting part
• Cannot be palpated during pelvic examination.
• Might lead to variable decelerations or unexplained fetal
distress.
Occult cord prolapse
Funic (cord) presentation
Overt cord prolapse

9. Funic (cord) presentation
• Prolapse of the umbilical cord below the level of the
presenting partbefore the rupture of fetal membranes
• Cord can often be easily palpated through the membranes
• Often the harbinger of cord prolapse
Overt cord prolapse
• Umbilical cord lies below the presenting part
• Associated with rupture of membranes, and displacement
of the cord through the vagina.
TYPES

10. INCIDENCE
• Overall Incidence of Cord prolapse: 0.1% - 0.6%.
• Cephalic presentation: 0.5%
• Breech presentation: 1%.
 0.5% frank breech
 complete breech 5%
 footling breech 15%, and
 transverse lie 20%

11. RISK FACTORS (Maternal)
Multiparity Polyhydramnios Abnormal placentation
Low birth weight Pelvic deformities Second twin

12. Breech/Malpresentations Transverse, Oblique and
unstable lie
High head at onset of labour
Fetal Congenital
anomalies
Long umbilical cord
RISK FACTORS (Fetal)

13. OBSTETRIC
PROCEDURES
AMNIOTOMY
INTERNAL PODALIC
VERSION
INDUCTION
OFLABOUR
EXTERNAL CEPHALIC
VERSION
RISK FACTORS

14. CONSEQUENCES
Cord
compression
Umbilical artery
vasospasm
Birth asphyxia
Hypoxic
Ischemic
Encephalopathy
Perinatal death

15. S.NO EXAMINATION RATIONALIZATION
1.
Vaginal examination 1. Visualization of the cord at the introitus
2. Feeling the cord within the vagina
2.
Obstetric abdominal
examination:
Reduction in the fetal
heart rate detected by
Pinard examination.
1. Compression of the cord by the presenting
part and vasospasm of the umbilical vessels will
lead to fetal hypoxia.
2. Fetal heart rate can also be assesses by CTG
or doppler.
3. Cardiotocography
(CTG)
Not necessary for the diagnosis but will indicate
fetal hypoxia.
DIAGNOSTIC TEST

16. CLINICAL FINDINGS
Occult prolapse:
• It is rarely palpated during
pelvic examination.
• This condition can be inferred
only if fetal heart rate changes
• Bradycardia :
a heart rate of less than 120 beats/ mins.

17. Overt cord prolapse:
It can be diagnosed simply
by visualizing the cord
protruding from the introitus or
by palpating loops of cord in the
vaginal canal by fingers.
CLINICAL FINDINGS

18. Funic presentation
It is made by pelvic
examination if loops of cord are
palpated through the
membranes.
CLINICAL FINDINGS

19. PREVENTION
1. Admission if
a.Transverse, oblique or unstable lie after 37+6 weeks
b.Noncephalic presentations and preterm
prelabour rupture of the membranes
2. Vaginal examination & monitoring FHR for
abnormalities.
– In the presence of risk factors cord presentation
or prolapse should be excluded at every vaginal
examination.

20. 3. Avoid ARM if
– Presenting part is mobile
– Cord is felt below the presenting part
IF ARM necessary:
Performed with arrangements for immediate CS.
Upward pressure on the presenting part should be kept
to a minimum once membranes have been ruptured.
PREVENTION

21. Where artificial rupture of membranes (ARM) is
indicated it should only be performed by senior medical or
midwifery staff in the following circumstances (consider the
need to exclude cord presentation on ultrasound before
ARM for:
– High, ill-fitting presenting part & Unstable lie
– Polyhydramnios
4. Caesarean section:
– When cord presentation in established labour
PREVENTION

22. PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT
• Call for help
• Continuous fetal monitoring
• O2 by face mask
• Immediate delivery
– Essentially by CS – allow instrumental/vaginal delivery if
deemed quicker
– Inform anesthetist, pediatrician, and OR staff
– Patient consent
• Funic reduction (rarely used)
– Replacement of the umbilical cord into the uterus

23. • Funic decompression/elevation of the presenting part
– Two fingers/hand in the vagina + elevation of the presenting
part
– Steep Trendelenburg or knee-chest position
– Insertion of Foley’s catheter and filling the urinary bladder
(500–750 mL)
• Tocolysis
– Not a first line management – can be considered if prolonged
interval to delivery is expected
• Keep the cord moist
– With cord extruding in the vagina and delivery is not
imminent
PRINCIPLES OF MANAGEMENT

24. MANAGEMENT
Speed is of the essence and perinatal outcome is
largely dictated by the diagnosis-delivery interval.
The three components of management are:
1. Prevent or relieve cord compression and vasospasm
2. Fetal assessment
3. Prompt delivery of the infant

25. MANAGEMENT
Overt Cord Prolapse
• The diagnosis of overt cord prolapse demands
immediate action to preserve the life of the fetus.
• An immediate pelvic examination should be
performed to determine cervical effacement and
dilatation, station of the presenting part, and strength
and frequency of pulsations within the cord vessels

26. If the fetus is viable, the patient should be placed
in the knee– chest position, and the examiner should
apply continuous upward pressure against the
presenting part to lift and maintain the fetus away from
the prolapsed cord until preparations for cesarean
delivery are complete.
MANAGEMENT

27. MANAGEMENT
• Alternatively, 400–700 mL of saline can be instilled into
the bladder in order to elevate the presenting part.
• Oxygen should be given to the mother until the
anesthesiologist is prepared to administer a rapid-acting
inhalation anesthetic for delivery.
• If heart rate changes, should not delay preparation for
cesarean delivery and a pediatric team should be on standby
in the event immediate resuscitation of the newborn is
necessary.

28. MANAGEMENT
1. Prevent/relieve cord compression and vasospasm
• Manual replacement & Bladder filling
• Adjust maternal position
Manual replacement
• Manual elevation
• Funic reduction

29. MANAGEMENT
BLADDER FILLING
• If the decision to delivery interval is likely to be prolonged,
elevation through bladder filling may be more practical.
• Introduced by Vagoin 1970
• It is essential to empty the bladder again just before
any delivery attempt, be it vaginal or CS.
• Physiologically inhibits uterine contraction.

30. MANAGEMENT
MATERNAL POSITION ADJUSTMENT
• Knee-chest position (Genu-pectoral)
• Gives maximum elevation of the presenting part.
• Provides good initial evaluation of the presenting part.
• A tiring posture to maintain.
• If any length of time is involved, move to the Sim’s
lateral position
• Sim’s lateral position
• More relaxed and dignified for the patient.
• Elevate buttocks with pillow
• Tredelenburg position
• A head-down tilt.
• Very tiring

31. Sim’s lateral position
Knee-chest position
(Genu-pectoral)
• Tredelenburg position
MATERNAL POSITION ADJUSTMENT

32. MANAGEMENT
2. FETAL ASSESSMENT
IS THE BABY VIABLE?
Interventions for fetal reasons are not necessary for:
• Already dead baby
• Too immature to survive (e.g. before age of fetal viability)
• Lethal fetal anomaly (e.g. anencephaly)
In these cases, allow labour to progress and deliver
vaginally unless there’s a contraindication to vaginal
delivery.

33. MANAGEMENT
IF BABY IS ALIVE
• Quickest way to tell is by palpating the presence or
absence of pulsations in the cord.
• Beware of mistaking folds of membranes or tips of
fetal fingers and toes for the cord. Or clinician’s finger
pulsation.

34. • Absent pulsations should be confirmed between
contractions in case cord compression is released and
pulsations return.
• Fetal heart auscultation best determines whether or not
the fetus is alive. Electronic fetal heart monitoring using
fetal scalp electrode may be useful. Real-time USS if
available.
MANAGEMENT

35. MANAGEMENT
3. Prompt delivery
CERVIX FULLY DILATED
• Vaginal birth can be attempted at full dilatation if it is
anticipated that delivery would be accomplished within
20 minutes from diagnosis.
• Depending on the circumstances, this may involve delivery
by forceps, vacuum or breech extraction.
• Breech extraction e.g after IPV for 2nd twin, or for singleton
breechbabies with presenting part distending the perineum

36. MANAGEMENT
CERVIX NOT FULLY DILATED
An immediate Caesarean Section (usually within 30
minutes) is the recommended mode of delivery in cases of cord
prolapse when vaginal delivery is not imminent, in order to
prevent hypoxia-acidosis.
• The 30-minute decision-to-delivery interval is the target for CS.
Some investigators have noted that the interval to
delivery had little effect on Apgar scores if they delivered
within 30 minutes.

37. MANAGEMENT
• The presenting part should be kept elevated during
induction of anaesthesia and placement of
sterile sheets.
• Remember to drain bladder before incision.
• Recheck fetal heart before incision.
• Regional anaesthesia may be considered in consultation
with an experienced anaesthetist

38. • A practitioner competent in the resuscitation of the
newborn, usually a neonatologist, should attend all
deliveries with cord prolapse.
• Neonates born after cord prolapse are at significant risk
of needing neonatal resuscitation, as evidenced by a
high rate of low APGAR scores (<7)
MANAGEMENT

39. MANAGEMENT
• OCCULT CORD PROLAPSE
The various modalities of management aim at raising the
pelvis, and therefore bring the cervix to a higher level
than the fundus of the uterus.
• Depends on the type of cord prolapse.
• OCCULT PROLAPSE
Immediate VE to rule out cord prolapse
Left lateral position & O2 to mother

40. Discontinue oxytocin infusion if in place
Allow labor to progress if FH returns to normal and no
further insult.
Continuous fetal heart rate monitoring
Amnioinfusion
CS if cord compression pattern continues
MANAGEMENT

41. • If occult cord prolapse is suspected, the patient should be
placed in the lateral Sims or trendelenburg position.
• Oxygen should be administered to the mother, and the
fetal heart rate should be continuously monitored
electronically.
• If the cord compression pattern persists or recurs to the
point of fetal jeopardy (moderate to severe variable
decelerations or bradycardia), a rapid cesarean section
should be accomplished.
MANAGEMENT

42. MANAGEMENT
OR
Lateral sims Trendelenburg position

43. MANAGEMENT
Funic Presentation
• The patient at term with funic presentation should be
delivered by cesarean section prior to membrane rupture.
• The most conservative approach is to hospitalize the
patient on bed rest in the Sims or Trendelenburg position in
an attempt to reposition the cord within the uterine cavity.
• Serial ultrasonographic examinations should be performed to
ascertain cord position, presentation, and gestational age.

44. INITIAL MANAGEMENT OF CORD PROLAPSE IN
HOSPITAL
1. Assistance should be immediately called
2. Preparations made for immediate delivery Manual
replacement of the prolapsed cord above the presenting
part to allow continuation of labour is not recommended.
3. Prevent vasospasm:
– Minimal handling of loops of cord lying outside the
vagina.

45. 4. Prevent cord compression: Presenting part be elevated
either
– manually or by
– filling the urinary bladder. & knee–chest position or
– head-down tilt (preferably in left-lateral position).
5. Tocolysis
– while preparing for CS if there are
– persistent FHR abnormalities after attempts to prevent
compression mechanically and when the delivery is
likely to be delayed.
INITIAL MANAGEMENT OF CORD PROLAPSE IN HOSPITAL

46. – Swabs soaked in warm saline are wrapped around
the cord: unproven benefit.
6. Manual elevation:
– By inserting a gloved hand or two fingers in the vagina
and pushing the presenting part upwards. A variation is
to remove the hand from the vagina once the presenting
part is above the pelvic brim and apply continuous
suprapubic pressure upwards.
– Excessive displacement may encourage more cord
to prolapse.
INITIAL MANAGEMENT OF CORD PROLAPSE IN HOSPITAL

47. 7. Bladder filling
 If the decision-to-delivery interval is likely to be
prolonged, particularly if it involves ambulance transfer
Moderate Trendelenburg position.
 By inserting the end of a blood giving set into a Foley’s
catheter. The catheter should be clamped once 500–750 ml
has been instilled.
 Empty the bladder again just before any delivery attempt,
be it vaginal or CS.
INITIAL MANAGEMENT OF CORD PROLAPSE IN HOSPITAL

48. MODE OF DELIVERY WITH CORD PROLAPSE
1. CS
– when vaginal delivery is not imminent
{prevent hypoxia–acidosis}.
2. Vaginal:
– When vaginal birth is imminent {outcomes are
similar or better when compared with CS}.

49. • CS:
Category 1:
– Delivering within 30 min or less if there is suspicious
or pathological FHR
– but without unduly risking maternal safety. Verbal
consent is satisfactory.
Category 2:
– FHR is normal.
– The outcome for emergency CS is not worse for deliveries
occurring up to 60 min from decision, provided that the
situation is not immediately life- threatening for the fetus
MODE OF DELIVERY WITH CORD PROLAPSE

50. • Vaginal birth
Most cases operative
Very favourable characteristics:
• full cervical dilatation
• delivery would be accomplished quickly and
safely. Decision-to-delivery interval: 30 min or less.
MODE OF DELIVERY WITH CORD PROLAPSE

51. Breech extraction:
– Performed after internal podalic version for the
second twin.
Forceps or ventouse:
– Depend on clinical circumstances and level of skill. No
difference in neonatal outcomes for fetal distress
MODE OF DELIVERY WITH CORD PROLAPSE

52. MANAGEMENT
• Neonatal care
– Neonatologist should attend
– Paired cord blood samples for pH and base
excess measurement
{strong predictive value of a normal paired cord blood
gas for the exclusion of intrapartum related hypoxic–
ischemic brain damage}

53. Management in community settings
There’s an increase in perinatal mortality in cases of
cord prolapse occurring outside the hospital, even
compared with an unmonitored fetus whose cord
prolapsed while in the hospital.
Women should be advised, over the telephone if
necessary, to assume the knee-chest or steep
Trendelenburg position while waiting for hospital transfer.

54. •During emergency ambulance transfer, the knee–chest is
potentially unsafe and the left-lateral position should be
used.
lateral position
Elevate presenting part: manual or bladder filling
 Prevent vasospasm: minimal handling of loops of cord
lying outside the vagina.
Management in community settings

55. • All women with cord prolapse should be advised to be
transferred to the nearest consultant unit for delivery,
unless an immediate vaginal examination by a
competent professional reveals that a spontaneous
vaginal delivery is imminent.
• Preparations for transfer should still be made.
• The presenting part should be elevated during
transfer by either manual or bladder filling methods.
Management in community settings

56. PROGNOSIS
Maternal
Maternal complications include those related to
anesthesia, blood loss, and infection following cesarean
section or operative vaginal delivery. Maternal recovery is
generally complete

57. Neonatal
– If the diagnosis is made early and the duration of
complete cord occlusion is less than 5 minutes, the
prognosis is good.
– If complete cord occlusion has occurred for longer
than 5 minutes or if intermittent partial cord
occlusion has occurred over a prolonged period of
time, fetal damage or death may occur
PROGNOSIS

58. DOCUMENTATION ITEMS
• Time of occurrence of cord prolapse
• Fetal status at cord prolapse and till delivery
• Condition of the cord (color, pulsations)
• Time of notification/arrival of obstetrician and other
health care personnel
• Maneuvers carried out to relieve cord compression
• Fetal response to interventions/maneuvers

59. • Time of entering the theatre and start of CS –
if carried out
• Type of anesthesia
• Diagnosis-to-delivery interval
• The condition of the baby at delivery including cord pH
• Neonatal outcome
DOCUMENTATION ITEMS

60. SUMMARY OF PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS
• Risk of cord presentation/prolapse is increased after
artificial rupture of the membranes (ARM) or sudden
spontaneous rupture of the forewaters with
malpresentation or high presenting part.
• Perform a vaginal examination to exclude or confirm the
presence of cord presentation/prolapse if sudden
appearance of persistent, deep, fetal variable
decelerations or prolonged fetal bradycardia.

61. • Once cord prolapse is diagnosed, treat as an obstetric
emergency.
• If the woman’s cervix is fully dilated, expedite vaginal birth.
• If the woman’s cervix is not fully dilated, the priority is to
relieve pressure on the cord by elevating the presenting part
while preparations are made for an emergency caesarean
section.
• If the cord is not pulsating, confirm fetal death with
ultrasound and plan for vaginal birth.
SUMMARY OF PRACTICE RECOMMENDATIONS

62. CONCLUSION
Umbilical cord prolapse is a well known obstetric
emergency that requires prompt delivery to avoid
potentially devastating fetal outcomes. There is no
evidence that umbilical cord prolapse can be prevented,
but rapid diagnosis and delivery has been shown to be
advantageous. If managed improperly, it can lead to
significant fetal morbidity and mortality. Prompt,
appropriate management of this condition, however, has
been shown to have favourable overall outcomes.

63. REFERENCES
1. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. Green-top Guideline
No. 50,Umbilical Cord Prolapse. UK, 2014.
2. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and
Gynaecologists. PROMPT Practical Obstetric Multi Professional Training™
Course Manual Australian and New Zealand Edition. Melbourne, Victoria;
2012.
3. Bush M, Eddleman K, Belogolovkin V. Umbilical cord prolapse [Internet].
UptoDate. [cited 2019 Oct 10] Available from: www.uptodate.com; 2019.
4. South Australian Pregnancy Outcome Unit. Pregnancy Outcome in South
Australia 2016. Pregnancy Outcome Unit, Prevention and Population
Health Branch, Adelaide: Government of South Australia; 2018

64. REFERENCES
• D.C.Dutta,”Textbook of Obstetrics including Perinatology and
Contraception". Seventh Edition.
• J.B. Sharma, “Midwifery & Gynaecological Nursing” Avichal Publishing
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