What does it mean when the umbilical cord only has 2 vessels?

Typically, an umbilical cord has two arteries and one vein. However, some babies have just one artery and vein. This condition is known as a two-vessel cord diagnosis. Doctors also call this a single umbilical artery (SUA).

Does 2 vessel cord mean Down syndrome?

There used to be a belief that a two-vessel cord signaled an increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome, but that’s actually not true — those would be more likely to be signaled by other symptoms, and your doc would look at other factors to diagnose something like that.

Does the umbilical cord show in an ultrasound?

The assessment of the umbilical cord should be an indispensable element of an ultrasound examination in every trimester of pregnancy. The umbilical cord may be visualized for 42 days of gestation as a ropelike, echogenic structure between the fetus and trophoblast [2,3].

How common is SUA?

The absence of one of the arteries is called single umbilical artery (SUA). It is one of the most common sonographic findings during pregnancy with an incidence range that goes from 0.5 to 6 percent in single pregnancies [1–3]. This incidence increases three or four times in twins pregnancies [4, 5].

Does SUA mean Down syndrome?

Trisomy 13, trisomy 18, trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), and Turner syndrome are all associated with single umbilical artery, with trisomy 18 being the most common chromosomal abnormality.

How common are umbilical cord accidents?

According to research from the Stillbirth Collaborative Research Network, umbilical cord accidents account for around 10% of stillbirths. 1 While people often assume that the deaths are caused by accidental strangulation, they are most often the result of a sudden disruption of the blood supply to the baby.

Should I worry about SUA?

Your baby is likely to be fine. Having only one artery, called a single umbilical artery (SUA), shouldn’t affect his health. Usually, an umbilical cord has two arteries, along with a single vein. The vein carries oxygen and nutrients to your baby, and the arteries remove waste products.

Can a baby have a two vessel umbilical cord?

A two-vessel umbilical cord (or single umbilical artery) is a perinatal finding that may be detected in infants with congenital or chromosomal abnormalities. Its presence has been associated with an increased risk of genitourinary defects. The urologic anomalies that typically are associated with a two-vessel cord often are minor and self-limiting.

Is the umbilical cord a urologic anomalies?

A two-vessel umbilical cord (or single umbilical artery) is a perinatal finding that may be detected in infants with congenital or chromosomal abnormalities. Its presence has been associated with an increased risk of genitourinary defects. The urologic anomalies that typically are associated with a …

What are the implications of two vessel cord?

The study was designed to investigate the implications of the sonographic diagnosis of the two-vessel umbilical cord for patient counselling and pregnancy management. Retrospective analysis was carried out of prenatal findings and pregnancy outcomes when a two-vessel cord was diagnosed in utero. Eig …

How big is the umbilical cord in centimeters?

It measures 55-60 cm in length with a thickness of 2.0-2.5 cm 3. The normal cord has two arteries and one vein 2-3: 1. Elsayes KM, Trout AT, Friedkin AM et-al. Imaging of the placenta: a multimodality pictorial review.