ABSTRACT
The birth of an infant with increased number of umbilical veins is a rare event and
has been previously reported to be associated with a high incidence of major congenital
anomalies. This report documents a normal infant with two umbilical veins resulting
in a four vessel cord. A male infant (third of triplet pregnancy resulting from multiple
zygote implantation) was born at 30 weeks' gestation weighing 1320 g. Two umbilical
veins and two umbilical arteries were noted on cannulation and X ray. Physical examination
and cranial, abdominal, and cardiac ultrasound exam were normal. One-year follow-up
was normal. The birth of infant with a four-vessel cord mandates comprehensive workup
for associated anomalies but this case indicates that such a finding is not always
ominous.
Keywords
Umbilical vein - umbilical cord - congenital anomalies
