PERSISTENT RIGHT UMBILICAL VEIN - SONOGRAPHIC DETECTION AND SUBSEQUENT NEONATAL OUTCOME

Objective: To review our experience with antenatal detection and subse quent neonatal outcome of fetuses with a persistent right umbilical ve in. Methods: In a prospective observational study, 33 cases of persist ent right umbilical vein were detected during 15,237 obstetric ultraso und examinations performed after 15 weeks' gestation. Results: Persist ent right umbilical vein was detected at a rate of one per 476 obstetr ic ultrasound examinations. Six of 33 (18.2%) fetuses with a persisten t right umbilical vein had additional important congenital malformatio ns. Conclusions: Careful second- and third-trimester ultrasound examin ations can detect a persistent right umbilical vein. When this particu lar anomaly is detected, a thorough fetal anatomic survey, including e chocardiography, should be performed to rule out more serious congenit al malformations.