The invisible killer: fetal vascular malperfusion in stillbirths without macroscopic cord abnormalities

Knowing the cause of fetal death is paramount both for bereaved parents and clinicians, helping in stillbirth acceptance and future prevention strategies. Our findings show the occurrence of FVM in cases without macroscopic umbilical cord anomalies. Therefore, an in-depth placental histopathological examination is mandatory to unravel signs of fetal blood flow obstruction in cases in which umbilical cord looks grossly normal. This knowledge helps parents, and health care providers in the real identification of the pathogenesis of fetal death, as the first step for personalized future actions of stillbirth prevention.