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Abruptio Placenta

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Management and Therapy of Late Pregnancy Complications

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Abstract

Placental abruption (PA), defined as premature separation of placenta before the delivery of the fetus, is uncommon obstetric complication associated with high perinatal mortality. The prevalence of placental abruption ranges from 0.4 to 1 % of all pregnancies and varies slightly in different populations. The strongest risk factors for placental abruption are preeclampsia, smoking, and history of previous placental abruption. The typical clinical findings in severe placental abruption are vaginal bleeding, abdominal pain, and fetal distress. The ultrasound evaluation has low sensitivity but can be valuable in differential diagnosis with placenta previa. PA is one of the most significant causes of maternal morbidity and perinatal mortality. Maternal risks include obstetric hemorrhage, need for blood transfusion, emergency hysterectomy, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and renal failure. Perinatal complications include preterm delivery, asphyxia, stillbirth, and perinatal death. In most of the cases, management of severe placental abruption requires careful monitoring of the maternal hemodynamic status and emergency cesarean delivery. PA is considered as the main cause of approximately 10 % of preterm births and from 10 to 20 % of all perinatal deaths.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland

    Miroslaw Wielgos MD, PhD, Patrycja Jarmuzek MD & Bronislawa Pietrzak MD, PhD

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  1. Miroslaw Wielgos MD, PhD
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  2. Patrycja Jarmuzek MD
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  3. Bronislawa Pietrzak MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miroslaw Wielgos MD, PhD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Santa Maria Hospital, G.V.M. Care and Research, Bari, Italy

    Antonio Malvasi

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Experimental Endoscopic Surgery, Imaging, Technology and Minimally Invasive Therapy, Technology and Minimally Invasive Therapy, Vito Fazzi Hospital, Piazza Muratore, Lecce, Italy

    Andrea Tinelli

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Centre for Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine, Santa Maria della Misericordia University, Hospiatal, Perugia, Italy

    Gian Carlo Di Renzo

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Wielgos, M., Jarmuzek, P., Pietrzak, B. (2017). Abruptio Placenta. In: Malvasi, A., Tinelli, A., Di Renzo, G. (eds) Management and Therapy of Late Pregnancy Complications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48732-8_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-48732-8_3

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