Prolapse of the umbilical cord. 79 cases

The authors are considering the prolapse of the umbilical cord, based on 79 personal observations collected in 15 years and data from the literature. They demonstrate that a simple approach (forcing back the presentation and caesarean section) decreases the perinatal mortality rate. The total rate of fetal deaths is 10 p. cent, the corrected rate of children dead on admission is 1.5 p. cent. 77 p. cent of caesarean sections were performed.     

The history of the drop. Prolapse of the umbilical cord

Prolapse of the umbilical cord which is still, nowadays, a very dangerous ailment for the fetus, is the type of obstetrical emergency where a quick therapeutic decision may save the child. Its current management is perfectly organized and the authors thought it would be interesting to retrace the history of ideas and techniques leading to the current concepts.     

Prolapse of the umbilical cord--an intrapartum emergency situation

There were 37 cases of prolapse of the umbilical cord among 16 177 deliveries (incidence of 0,2%). Therapy is firstly knee-chest positioning of the mother, control of fetal heart rate and acute tokolysis, secondly rapid delivery. The perinatal mortality of prolapsed cord was 13,5 per cent. Various methods of delivery are analysed.