Publication

Sudden intrauterine death associated with furcate insertion of the umbilical cord

Journal Paper/Review - Nov 26, 2008

Units
PubMed
Doi

Citation
Laberke P, Deubler G. Sudden intrauterine death associated with furcate insertion of the umbilical cord. Int J Legal Med 2008; 123:509-12.
Type
Journal Paper/Review (English)
Journal
Int J Legal Med 2008; 123
Publication Date
Nov 26, 2008
Issn Electronic
1437-1596
Pages
509-12
Brief description/objective

In the case described, a completely uncomplicated pregnancy ended with a fatal outcome. Intrauterine fetal death, which was diagnosed prepartum at 40 weeks of gestation, was caused by hemorrhage of the fetus into the amniotic fluid following rupture of the umbilical vein at the site of furcate insertion of the umbilical cord. This insertion anomaly accompanied by rupture of a vessel occurs only very rarely but represents a placental cause of an abrupt and unpredicted end of a pregnancy. Although this process involved trauma, from a medico-legal point of view, there was no sign of external impact and death could, therefore, be classified as natural.