A case of a new-born with a four loops nuchal cord rescued from severe neonatal asphyxia: have we learn anything new?

Abstract

Nuchal cord, where the umbilical cord wraps around the baby's neck or other part of the body, is common during delivery and usually harmless. We report a case of a 30-year old woman, G3P2 with a history of nuchal cord in prior pregnancies, one resulting in a stillbirth. She delivered a baby girl with four loops of nuchal cord and severe neonatal
asphyxia through elective caesarean section. The baby was resuscitated and recovered in the neonatal intensive care unit. This case highlights the importance of a high suspicion for complications in women with a history of nuchal cord. It also emphasizes the need for detailed reporting of nuchal cord presentations on ultrasound, including the number and tightness of loops. Finally, the case underscores the need for preparation for potential resuscitation measures in deliveries with a prenatal diagnosis of multiple nuchal cord loops.