Intrapartum umbilical cord rupture.

Background: Surveillance and identification of umbilical cord abnormalities is a challenging problem in obstetrics. Continuous fetal monitoring during active labor helps identify when danger exists for the fetus.

Case: A nullipara underwent emergent cesarean delivery for fetal distress and was found to have a fetus already separated from the completely torn umbilical cord. The cord was 17 cm in length, centrally attached, pale, and without bleeding from vasospasm. The newborn was initially pale but had a hemoglobin of 17.4 g and survived.

Conclusion: The incidence of rupture of the umbilical cord in utero is rare and has little documentation.