Publication:

Abruptio placenta: a retrospective study on maternal and perinatal outcome

Background Abruptio placenta is separation of a normally situated placenta after 20 weeks of gestation and prior to the birth of the fetus. It is an important cause of antepartum haemorrhage and presents as an acute abdomen in the third trimester of pregnancy. Obstetrical haemorrhage is one of the triad (Haemorrhage hypertension and infection) of causes of maternal deaths in both developed and underdeveloped countries.

Methods This is a retrospective study of Abruptio Placenta cases carried out between January 2015 and December 2015 at Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital, Salem and about its perinatal and maternal outcome.

Results Incidence of Abruptio placenta is 0.5%. It is most common in the women of age group 26-30yrs. 67% of cases were associated with severe pre-eclampsia. Live births were 69.8% while stillbirths were 30.2%. PPH occurred in 19.6% of cases. DIC accounts for 16.7% of the complication.

Conclusions Abruptio placenta is associated with poor maternal and fetal outcome. Hence early diagnosis and prompt resuscitative measures would prevent both perinatal and maternal mortality and morbidity.