Dataset Information

Velamentous cord insertion: results from a rapid review of incidence, risk factors, adverse outcomes and screening.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Velamentous cord insertion (VCI) is an umbilical cord attachment to the membranes surrounding the placenta instead of the central mass. VCI is strongly associated with vasa praevia (VP), where umbilical vessels lie in close proximity to the internal cervical os. VP leaves the vessels vulnerable to rupture, which can lead to fatal fetal exsanguination. Screening for VP using second-trimester transabdominal sonography (TAS) to detect VCI has been proposed. We conducted a rapid review investigating the quality, quantity and direction of evidence available on the epidemiology, screening test accuracy and post-screening management pathways for VCI.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched on 5 July 2016 and again on 11 October 2019, using general search terms for VP and VCI. Only peer-reviewed articles reporting on the epidemiology of VCI, the accuracy of the screening test and/or downstream management pathways for VCI pregnancies were included. Quality and risk of bias of each included study were assessed using pre-specified tools.

Results

Forty-one relevant publications were identified; all but one were based on non-UK pregnancy cohorts, and most included relatively few VCI cases. The estimated incidence of VCI was 0.4-11% in singleton pregnancies, with higher incidence in twin pregnancies (1.6-40%). VCI incidence was also increased among pregnancies with one or more other risk factors, including in vitro fertilisation pregnancies or nulliparity. VCI incidence among women without any known risk factors was unclear. VCI was associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, most notably pre-term birth and emergency caesarean section in singleton pregnancies, and perinatal mortality in twins; however, associations varied across studies and the increased risk was typically low or moderate compared with pregnancies without VCI. In studies on limited numbers of cases, screening for VCI using TAS had good overall accuracy, driven by high specificity. No studies on post-screening management of VCI were identified.

Conclusions

Literature on VCI epidemiology and outcomes is limited and low-quality. The accuracy of second-trimester TAS and the benefits and harms of screening cannot be determined without prospective studies in large cohorts. Modelling studies may indicate the feasibility and value of studying the epidemiology of VCI and the potential impact of detecting VCI as part of a population screening programme for VP.

SUBMITTER: Buchanan-Hughes A

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7313176 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Velamentous cord insertion: results from a rapid review of incidence, risk factors, adverse outcomes and screening.

Buchanan-Hughes Amy A Bobrowska Anna A Visintin Cristina C Attilakos George G Marshall John J

Systematic reviews 20200623 1

<h4>Background</h4>Velamentous cord insertion (VCI) is an umbilical cord attachment to the membranes surrounding the placenta instead of the central mass. VCI is strongly associated with vasa praevia (VP), where umbilical vessels lie in close proximity to the internal cervical os. VP leaves the vessels vulnerable to rupture, which can lead to fatal fetal exsanguination. Screening for VP using second-trimester transabdominal sonography (TAS) to detect VCI has been proposed. We conducted a rapid r ...[more]

PMID: 32576295

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Abnormal placental cord insertion (PCI) includes marginal cord insertion (MCI) and velamentous cord insertion (VCI). VCI has been shown to be associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine the association of abnormal PCI and adverse pregnancy outcomes. METHODS:Embase, Medline, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Cochrane Databases were searched in December 2016 (from inception to December 2016). The reference lists of eligible studies were scrutinized to identify further studies. Potentially eligible studies were reviewed by two authors independently using the following inclusion criteria: singleton pregnancies, velamentous cord insertion, marginal cord insertion, and pregnancy outcomes. Case reports and series were excluded. The methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Outcomes for meta-analysis were dichotomous and results are presented as summary risk ratios with 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS:Seventeen studies were included in the systematic review, all of which were assessed as good quality. Normal PCI and MCI were grouped together as non-VCI and compared with VCI in seven studies. Four studies compared MCI, VCI, and normal PCI separately. Two other studies compared MCI with normal PCI, and VCI was excluded from their analysis. Studies in this systematic review reported an association between abnormal PCI, defined differently across studies, with preterm birth, small for gestational age (SGA), low birthweight (<?2500 g), emergency cesarean delivery, and intrauterine fetal death. Four cohort studies comparing MCI, VCI, and normal PCI separately were included in a meta-analysis resulting in a statistically significant increased risk of emergency cesarean delivery for VCI (pooled RR 2.86, 95% CI 1.56-5.22, P =?0.0006) and abnormal PCI (pooled RR 1.77, 95% CI 1.33-2.36, P <?0.0001) compared to normal PCI. CONCLUSIONS:The available evidence suggests an association between abnormal PCI and emergency cesarean delivery. However, the number of studies with comparable definitions of abnormal PCI was small, limiting the analysis of other adverse pregnancy outcomes, and further research is required.

Project description:ObjectivesTo determine risk factors for short and long umbilical cord, entanglement and knot. Explore their associated risks of adverse maternal and perinatal outcome, including risk of recurrence in a subsequent pregnancy. To provide population based gestational age and sex and parity specific reference ranges for cord length.DesignPopulation based registry study.SettingMedical Birth Registry of Norway 1999-2013.PopulationAll singleton births (gestational age>22weeks<45 weeks) (n = 856 300).MethodsDescriptive statistics and odds ratios of risk factors for extreme cord length and adverse outcomes based on logistic regression adjusted for confounders.Main outcome measuresShort or long cord (<10th or >90th percentile), cord knot and entanglement, adverse pregnancy outcomes including perinatal and intrauterine death.ResultsIncreasing parity, maternal height and body mass index, and diabetes were associated with increased risk of a long cord. Large placental and birth weight, and fetal male sex were factors for a long cord, which again was associated with a doubled risk of intrauterine and perinatal death, and increased risk of adverse neonatal outcome. Anomalous cord insertion, female sex, and a small placenta were associated with a short cord, which was associated with increased risk of fetal malformations, placental complications, caesarean delivery, non-cephalic presentation, perinatal and intrauterine death. At term, cord knot was associated with a quadrupled risk of perinatal death. The combination of a cord knot and entanglement had a more than additive effect to the association to perinatal death. There was a more than doubled risk of recurrence of a long or short cord, knot and entanglement in a subsequent pregnancy of the same woman.ConclusionCord length is influenced both by maternal and fetal factors, and there is increased risk of recurrence. Extreme cord length, entanglement and cord knot are associated with increased risk of adverse outcomes including perinatal death. We provide population based reference ranges for umbilical cord length.

Project description:BackgroundVelamentous cord insertion (VCI) and marginal cord insertion (MCI) are well-known risk factors for adverse perinatal outcomes in singleton pregnancies. However, the potential links between VCI or MCI and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies have yet to be systematically evaluated. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between VCI or MCI and perinatal outcomes in twin pregnancies.MethodsThis retrospective single-center cohort study included women with twin pregnancies who gave birth in a tertiary hospital in Southwest, China between January 2017 and December 2022. VCI and MCI were identified by abdominal ultrasound and confirmed after placental delivery. Logistic regression, multinomial logit regression and generalized estimation equation models were used to evaluate the association between VCI or MCI and perinatal outcomes.ResultsA total of 3682 twin pregnancies were included, including 100 (2.7%) pregnancies with VCI and 149 (4.0%) pregnancies with MCI. Compared to pregnancies with normal cord insertion, both monochorionic and dichorionic pregnancies with VCI were associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery 32-34 weeks (aRRR 2.94, 95% CI 1.03-8.39; aRRR 2.55, 95% CI 1.19-5.46, respectively), while pregnancies with MCI were not associated with preterm delivery. VCI was associated with a higher incidence of placental previa (aOR 6.36, 95% CI 1.92-21.04) in monochorionic pregnancies and placental accreta (aOR 1.85, 95% CI 1.06-3.23) in dichorionic pregnancies. MCI was associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia (aOR 3.07, 95% CI 1.49-6.32), intertwin birthweight discordance ≥ 20% (aOR 2.40, 95% CI 1.08-5.60) and selective fetal growth restriction (aOR 2.46, 95% CI 1.08-5.60) in monochorionic pregnancies and small-for-gestational age neonates (aOR 1.97, 95% CI 1.24-3.14) in dichorionic pregnancies.ConclusionsVCI was associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery in twin pregnancies irrespective of chorionicity, whereas MCI was associated with an increased preeclampsia risk, significant intertwin birthweight discordance in monochorionic pregnancies and small-for-gestational age neonates in dichorionic pregnancies.

Dataset Information

Velamentous cord insertion: results from a rapid review of incidence, risk factors, adverse outcomes and screening.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Velamentous cord insertion: results from a rapid review of incidence, risk factors, adverse outcomes and screening.

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