To evaluate the value of prenatal ultrasound in the diagnosis of single umbilical artery(SUA) and fetal malformation.

The characteristics of the prenatal ultrasound findings of 143 fetuses with SUA in different gestational weeks were retrospectively analyzed, and the missing side of SUA were checked. Different types of SUA combined with fetal malformation were analyzed as well as chromosomal abnormalities and so on.

For 143 fetuses with SUA, there were 83 cases (58.0%) with absent left umbilical artery and 60 cases (42.0%) with absent right umbilical artery, there was no statistical difference between the two groups(P>0.05). Six cases (4.2%, 6/143) were detected at and before 20 weeks of gestation, and the rest 137 cases were detected after 20 weeks(95.8%, 137/143). There were 121 cases (84.6%) of isolated SUA, 22 cases(15.4%) were complicated with other malformations, including 10 cases (45.5%) with absent left umbilical artery and 12 cases (54.5%) with absent right umbilical artery. There was no statistical difference between left and right umbilical artery deletion combined with fetal malformation(χ²=1.692, ν=1, P>0.05). There were 11 cases(7.7%, 11/143) with cardiovascular malformation and nine cases(6.3%, 9/143) with digestive system malformation. Chromosome examination was performed in 23 cases. One case of trisomy 18-trisomy and 1 case of trisomy 13-trisomy were found to be with missing right umbilical artery and all of them were complicated with multiple deformities.

The absence of left and right umbilical artery can be combined with abnormal fetal malformation. Prenatal ultrasonography can accurately diagnose SUA and fetal malformation.

Ultrasonography; Single umbilical artery; Congenital malformation