Skip to main content
Log in

Vasa praevia: a lethal threat to the fetus

  • Clinical Review
  • Published:
European Clinics in Obstetrics and Gynaecology

Abstract

Vasa praevia constitutes a rare obstetric complication that is potentially lethal for the generally healthy infant. If unrecognized antenatally, the condition carries a higher fetal mortality rate than any other complication in pregnancy. Only in the past two decades have major diagnostic advances led to a dramatic improvement of perinatal survival and lower morbidity rates. Good outcomes depend primarily on prenatal diagnosis and appropriate management. The performance of a caesarean section before rupture of the membranes and the onset of labour is mandatory. Simple modifications of standard screening protocols and the recognition of high-risk patients will allow identification of most cases of vasa praevia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Subscribe and save

Springer+ Basic
$34.99 /Month
  • Get 10 units per month
  • Download Article/Chapter or eBook
  • 1 Unit = 1 Article or 1 Chapter
  • Cancel anytime
Subscribe now

Buy Now

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Oyelese Y, Catanzarite V, Prefumo F, Lashley S, Schachter M, Tovbin Y, Goldstein V, Smulian JC (2004) Vasa previa: the impact of prenatal diagnosis on outcomes. Obstet Gynecol 103:937–942

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Calleja-Agius J, Custo R, Brincat MP, Calleja N (2006) Placental abruption and placenta praevia. Eur Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2 (in press) DOI 10.1007/s11296-006-0046-5

  3. Gantt PA, Bird JS, Randall GW (1990) Sinusoidal fetal heart rate pattern with vasa previa. J Tenn Med Assoc 83:393–394

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Odunsi K, Bullough CH, Henzel J, Polanska A (1996) Evaluation of chemical tests for fetal bleeding from vasa previa. Int J Gynecol Obstet 55:207–212

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Lindqvist PG, Gren P (2006) An easy to use method for detecting fetal hemoglobin. A test to identify bleeding from vasa previa. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 22 (in press)

  6. Messer RH, Gomez AR, Yambao TJ (1987) Antepartum testing for vasa previa: current standard of care. Am J Obstet Gynecol 156:1459–1462

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gianopoulos J, Carver T, Tomich P, Karlman R, Gadwood K (1987) Diagnosis of vasa previa with ultrasonography. Obstet Gynecol 69:488–491

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Nelson LH, Melone PJ, King M (1990) Diagnosis of vasa previa with transvaginal and color flow Doppler ultrasound. Obstet Gynecol 76:506–509

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Nomiyama M, Toyota Y, Kawano H (1998) Antenatal diagnosis of velamentous umbilical cord insertion and vasa previa with color Doppler imaging. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 12:426–429

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Oyelese Y, Schwarzler P, Coates S, Sanusi FA, Hamid R, Campbell S (1998) A strategy for reducing the mortality rate from vasa previa using transvaginal sonography with color Doppler. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 12:434–438

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Clerici G, Burnelli V, Pilu GL, Di Renzo GC (1996) Prenatal diagnosis of vasa previa presenting as amniotic band. “A not so innocent amniotic band.” Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 7:61–63

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lee W, Lee VL, Kirk JS, Smith RS, Comstock CH (2000) Vasa previa: prenatal diagnosis, natural evolution and clinical outcome. Obstet Gynecol 95:572–576

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Cantarzite V, Maida C, Thomas W, Mendoza A, Stanco L, Piacquadio KM (2001) Prenatal sonographic diagnosis of vasa previa: ultrasound findings and obstetric outcome in ten cases. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 18:109–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sepulveda W, Rojas I, Robert JA, Schnapp C, Alcalde JL (2003) Prenatal detection of velamentous insertion of the umbilical cord: a prospective color Doppler ultrasound study. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 21:564–569

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Oyelese Y, Spong C, Fernandez MA, Mc Laren RA (2000) Second trimester low-lying placenta and in-vitro fertilization? Exclude vasa previa. J Matern Fetal Med 9:370–372

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Fung TY, Lau TK (1998) Poor perinatal outcome associated with vasa previa: is it preventable? A report of three cases and review of the literature. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 12:430–433

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Schachter M, Tovbin Y, Arieli S, Friedler S, Ron-El R, Sherman D (2002) In vitro fertilisation is a risk factor for vasa previa. Fertil Steril 42:213–216

    Google Scholar 

  18. Lee W, Kirk JS, Comstock CH, Romero R (2000) Vasa previa: prenatal detection by three-dimensional ultrasonography. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 16:384–387

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Oyelese Y, Chavez MR, Yeo L, Giannina G, Kontopoulos EV, Smulian JC, Scorza WE (2004) Picture of the month. Three-dimensional sonographic diagnosis of vasa previa. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 24:211–215

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Nimmo MJ, Kinsella D, Andrews HS (1998) MRI in pregnancy, the diagnosis by magnetic resonance imaging. Bristol Med Chir J 103:12

    Google Scholar 

  21. Oyelese Y, Smulian JC (2006) Placenta praevia, placenta accreta and vasa previa. Obstet Gynecol 107:927–941

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Ameryckx.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ameryckx, L., Amy, J.J. Vasa praevia: a lethal threat to the fetus. Eur Clinics Obstet Gynaecol 2, 128–130 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11296-006-0040-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11296-006-0040-y

Keywords

Navigation