[Intrapartum therapy-resistant fetal bradycardia--color Doppler sonographic diagnosis of umbilical cord compression due to fetal grasping].

Fetal heart rate pathology is seen in up to 40% of complications of the umbilical cord. We report a case in which long lasting bradycardia was associated with fetal grasping of the umbilical cord. Using colour doppler, the reason for the bradycardia could be detected. After vibro-acoustic stimulation the fetus released the grasp of the umbilical cord, following by a normalisation of the fetal heart rate and a spontaneous delivery two hours later. This case report underlines the importance of colour doppler for the diagnosis of fetal heart rate pathology.