Objective: To describe the ultrasound findings, maternal and perinatal variables in cases with a prenatal diagnosis of persistence of right umbilical vein.
Patients and methods: A descriptive analysis of cases with prenatal diagnosis of persistence of right umbilical vein in the Fetal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hospital Universitario Severo Ochoa. We described ultrasound findings, maternal and perinatal variables.
Results: We explored 9198 fetuses and 6 cases (0.06%) were diagnosis prenatally of persistent right umbilical vein, between 20 and 29 weeks of gestation. The male/female ratio was 1/1. Ductus venosus was presented in all cases. Two fetuses (33%) were proved to have other structural anomalies and their parents opted for termination of the pregnancy. All cases had no chromosomal anomaly associated and after birth, neonatal developments were favorable.
Conclusion: Based on our results and a literature review, after prenatal diagnosis of persistent right umbilical vein, an exhaustive morphological study, which included a fetal echocardiography, is mandatory in order to rule out other structural malformations. Indication for fetal karyotype study has to be individualized considering persistence right umbilical vein type and other ultrasound findings.