Objectives: To evaluate the accuracy of sonographic identification of the site of umbilical cord insertion (CI) at 18–20 weeks of gestation, to compare the sensitivities for detection of a velamentous cord insertion (VCI) secondary to a CI into the anterior, posterior or fundal wall, and to compare the intrapartum complications secondary to VCI into the upper, middle or lower third of the uterus.Methods: As part of the routine ultrasound scan at 18–20 weeks' gestation we evaluated abnormal CI (VCI and marginal CI) and the location of the CI in the uterus in 3446 pregnancies. In cases of abnormal CI, the location of the CI was further classified as being in the upper, middle or lower third of the uterus. After delivery, the placenta and the umbilical cord were examined and intrapartum complications were compared with the location of the CI.Results: The values for antenatal detection of VCI were: sensitivity, 25 of 40 (62.5%); positive predictive value, 25 of 25 (100%); and negative predictive value, 3406 of 3421 (99.6%). The sensitivity for cases in which the CI was located on the anterior wall was 12 of 13 (92.3%); when it was located on the posterior wall, the sensitivity was 11 of 22 (50.0%); and when it was fundal the sensitivity was 2 of 5 (40.0%). Variable decelerations were frequently observed with a VCI. In lower VCI cases, non‐reassuring fetal heart rate patterns and emergency Cesarean sections occurred with a higher frequency than in cases with upper or middle VCI (P < 0.01). After delivery, the length of the aberrant vessels in cases of VCI by pathologic examination was 3.9 ± 3.3 cm in the upper third, 4.7 ± 4.6 cm in the middle third, and 10.6 ± 6.8 cm in the lower third; thus, the aberrant vessel length was significantly greater when the CI was in the lower third of the uterus (P = 0.024).Conclusion: We have demonstrated that VCI with a lower CI site and with longer aberrant vessels is associated with various intrapartum complications. This finding has the potential for improving perinatal outcome. Copyright © 2006 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Objective To clarify the problems related to maternal deaths in Japan, including the diseases themselves, causes, treatments and the hospital or regional systems. Design Descriptive study. Setting Maternal death registration system established by the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG). Participants Women who died during pregnancy or within a year after delivery, from 2010 to 2014, throughout Japan (N=213). Main outcome measures The preventability and problems in each maternal death. Results Maternal deaths were frequently caused by obstetric haemorrhage (23%), brain disease (16%), amniotic fluid embolism (12%), cardiovascular disease (8%) and pulmonary disease (8%). The Committee considered that it was impossible to prevent death in 51% of the cases, whereas they considered prevention in 26%, 15% and 7% of the cases to be slightly, moderately and highly possible, respectively. It was difficult to prevent maternal deaths due to amniotic fluid embolism and brain disease. In contrast, half of the deaths due to obstetric haemorrhage were considered preventable, because the peak duration between the initial symptoms and initial cardiopulmonary arrest was 1–3 h. Conclusions A range of measures, including individual education and the construction of good relationships among regional hospitals, should be established in the near future, to improve primary care for patients with maternal haemorrhage and to save the lives of mothers in Japan.

In the maternal and child health statistics of Japan for 2003, perinatal deaths were most frequent in pregnant women with abnormalities of the placenta, umbilical cord, and fetal membrane. Despite advances in perinatal medicine, approximately 2% of low-risk pregnant women still require an emergency cesarean section after the onset of labor. Because it is likely that half of these cases are associated with placental and umbilical cord abnormalities, it is thought that prenatal detection of such abnormalities would reduce the number of emergency cesarean sections in low-risk women. In our previous studies, some abnormalities of the placenta and umbilical cord were associated with abnormalities of cord insertion. Furthermore, we reported that prenatal detection of velamentous cord insertion (VCI) reduced the number of emergency cesarean sections in low-risk women. In this review, we describe the prenatal detection of abnormalities of umbilical cord insertion and the management of VCI based on our current clinical data.

Objectives: To investigate whether maternal history and ultrasound findings can be predictors for massive hemorrhage during Cesarean section in patients with placenta previa and adherence of the placenta.Methods: We reviewed 127 singleton pregnancies with placenta previa. Maternal history, antenatal ultrasound findings of the placenta, including location, presence of placental lacunae, lack of a clear zone, presence of sponge‐like findings of the cervix and presence of a marginal sinus in cases of placenta previa were reviewed retrospectively, and their association with amount of bleeding during Cesarean section was analyzed.Results: Logistic regression analysis revealed that advan‐ced maternal age (odds ratio (OR), 5.4; 95% CI, 1.8–16.4), previous Cesarean section (OR, 20.4; 95% CI, 4.0–105.2) and sponge‐like findings in the cervix (OR, 5.6; 95% CI, 1.8–17.0) were associated with massive bleeding (> 2500 mL). Placental adherence occurred in five cases and was more frequent in cases where the placenta was located at the site of the scar of a previous Cesarean section (OR, 123.1; 95% CI, 4.5–3395.2) and where there was lack of a clear zone (OR, 48.0; 95% CI, 3.8–604.7).Conclusions: Advanced maternal age, previous Cesarean section and presence of sponge‐like findings in the cervix are risk factors for massive bleeding during Cesarean section in cases of placenta previa, regardless of whether placental adherence is present. Placental location on the scar of a previous Cesarean section and lack of a clear zone are risk factors for placental adherence. When these findings are identified preoperatively, management should be tailored accordingly. Copyright © 2009 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The aim of this study was to identify the relevant obstetric factors for cerebral palsy (CP) after 33 weeks’ gestation in Japan. This retrospective case cohort study (1:100 cases and controls) used a Japanese national CP registry. Obstetric characteristics and clinical course were compared between CP cases in the Japan Obstetric Compensation System for Cerebral Palsy database and controls in the perinatal database of the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology born as live singleton infants between 2009 and 2011 with a birth weight ≥ 2,000 g and gestation ≥ 33 weeks. One hundred and seventy-five CP cases and 17,475 controls were assessed. Major relevant single factors for CP were placental abnormalities (31%), umbilical cord abnormalities (15%), maternal complications (10%), and neonatal complications (1%). A multivariate regression model demonstrated that obstetric variables associated with CP were acute delivery due to non-reassuring fetal status (relative risk [RR]: 37.182, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 20.028–69.032), uterine rupture (RR: 24.770, 95% CI: 6.006–102.160), placental abruption (RR: 20.891, 95% CI: 11.817–36.934), and preterm labor (RR: 3.153, 95% CI: 2.024–4.911), whereas protective factors were head presentation (RR: 0.199, 95% CI: 0.088–0.450) and elective cesarean section (RR: 0.236, 95% CI: 0.067–0.828). CP after 33 weeks’ gestation in the recently reported cases in Japan was strongly associated with acute delivery due to non-reassuring fetal status, uterine rupture, and placental abruption.