SADULLAH ÖZKAN, ALPEREN AKSAN, FAHRİ BURCİN FIRATLIGİL, MURAT LEVENT DERELİ, ŞEVKİ ÇELEN
Southern Clinics of Istanbul Eurasia - 2024;35(4):359-363
Objective: To evaluate clinical outcomes and associated anomalies in fetuses diagnosed with persistent right umbilical vein (PRUV) during routine prenatal ultrasound at a tertiary perinatology clinic. Methods: This retrospective study included 11 cases of PRUV diagnosed between October 2022 and January 2024. Data were collected on maternal demographics, gestational age at diagnosis, associated anomalies, and neonatal outcomes. Ultrasound examinations were performed using B-mode and color Doppler, with fetal echocardiography to assess cardiac abnormalities. Cases were classified as isolated PRUV or PRUV with associated anomalies. Results: PRUV was detected in 11 out of 10,176 pregnancies (0.1%). Seven cases were isolated PRUV, while four cases had associated anomalies, including cardiovascular and genitourinary defects. One case with extrahepatic PRUV and severe cardiovascular abnormalities was discontinued. The remaining 10 cases, including those with isolated PRUV, resulted in healthy live births. Six births were by cesarean section, and four were spontaneous deliveries. The presence of additional malformations was associated with more complex prenatal management and a poorer prognosis. Conclusion: Isolated PRUV is usually associated with favorable outcomes, but the presence of additional anomalies, particularly cardiovascular defects, has a significant impact on management and prognosis. Comprehensive prenatal imaging, including echocardiography, is essential in PRUV cases to inform clinical decisions. Larger studies are needed to further elucidate the long-term outcomes of PRUV.
