[Neonatal prognosis for pulsating umbilical cord prolapse at the Befelatanana hospital of Madagascar].

UNLABELLED: Umbilical cord prolapse is an obstetrical emergency that is life-threatening for the fetus. This retrospective cross-sectional study examined cases of pulsating umbilical cord prolapses at our level-3 maternity unit over the past three years and sought to assess their prognosis. Cord prolapse occurred in 0.27% of deliveries. The women's mean age was 28 years, and 51% of the women were multiparous. Cesarean deliveries were performed in 96% of cases. Factors affecting neonatal outcome were the degree of cord prolapse (p = 0.0002981) and the appearance of amniotic fluid (p = 0.004078). The neonatal complications included admission to neonatal intensive care (33%), perinatal asphyxia (31%), prematurity (29%), neonatal infection (4%), and neonatal mortality (10%).

CONCLUSION: The fetus must be delivered rapidly, especially when the umbilical cord drops outside the mother's body and the amniotic fluid is meconial.