A new study from the Hadassah Medical Organization examined whether a true knot of the umbilical cord — a rare complication in which the umbilical cord forms a knot that can tighten and restrict blood flow to the fetus — can potentially lead to perinatal death.
Researchers analyzed data from 139,458 deliveries between 2003 and 2017. Of these, 0.26 percent involved a true knot and formed the study group, while the remaining 99.74 percent served as the control group. Results show higher rates of unfavorable outcomes among true knot cases, including perinatal death, lower Apgar scores, lower umbilical artery pH in cord blood and increased NICU admissions. The addition of multiple cord loops to a true knot was found to further elevate these risks.
The study concludes that prenatal diagnosis and close monitoring may reduce the dangers posed by true knots.
Read the full study in Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics.
