Umbilical cord prolapse.

Umbilical cord prolapse complicated one of 385 pregnancies occurring at the University of Colorado Health Science Center between 1969 and 1982. Whereas malpresentation of the fetus is frequently associated with prolapse of the funis, nearly 50% of all cases occurred in vertex presentations. Obstetric intervention is associated with nearly one in five cases of cord prolapse and represents a readily preventable cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity.