J Reprod Med
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To review the peripartum clinical course of patients whose pregnancies are complicated by umbilical cord prolapse at a large teaching hospital and to evaluate the time from diagnosis to delivery and its impact on neonatal outcome. ⋯ Our review indicated that umbilical cord prolapse continues to be associated with poor perinatal outcomes in some cases despite emergency delivery in a modern, high-risk obstetric unit. The asphyxiated neonate had a shorter-than-average time from diagnosis to delivery, suggesting that the time from diagnosis to delivery may not be the only critical determinant of neonatal outcome, particularly with frank cord prolapse. Occult cord prolapse was associated with less perinatal morbidity when compared to frank prolapse.