Placenta praevia

Editor-In-Chief: Prab R Tumpati, MD
Obesity, Sleep & Internal medicine
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Placenta praevia
Synonyms	Low-lying placenta
Pronounce	N/A
Specialty	N/A
Symptoms	Vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy
Complications	Preterm birth, fetal distress, hemorrhage
Onset	Second trimester
Duration	Until delivery
Types	N/A
Causes	Abnormal implantation of the placenta
Risks	Previous cesarean section, multiple pregnancy, smoking, advanced maternal age
Diagnosis	Ultrasound
Differential diagnosis	Placental abruption, vasa previa
Prevention	None
Treatment	Bed rest, cesarean section if necessary
Medication	Corticosteroids for fetal lung maturity
Prognosis	N/A
Frequency	0.5% of pregnancies
Deaths	Rare with modern medical care

A condition in pregnancy where the placenta partially or wholly blocks the cervix.

Placenta praevia is a condition in pregnancy where the placenta is abnormally positioned in the uterus, covering the cervix either partially or completely. This can lead to complications during childbirth, as the placenta may obstruct the passage of the baby through the birth canal.

Types

Placenta praevia is classified into several types based on the degree to which the placenta covers the cervix:

• Complete placenta praevia: The placenta completely covers the cervical opening.
• Partial placenta praevia: The placenta partially covers the cervix.
• Marginal placenta praevia: The placenta is at the edge of the cervix but does not cover it.
• Low-lying placenta: The placenta is positioned low in the uterus but does not reach the cervix.

Symptoms

The primary symptom of placenta praevia is painless vaginal bleeding during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. The bleeding can vary in severity and may occur suddenly.

Diagnosis

Placenta praevia is typically diagnosed through ultrasound imaging. A transvaginal ultrasound may be used for a more accurate assessment of the placenta's position.

Risk Factors

Several factors can increase the risk of developing placenta praevia, including:

• Previous cesarean section
• Multiple pregnancies
• Advanced maternal age
• Smoking
• Previous placenta praevia

Management

Management of placenta praevia depends on the severity of the condition and the stage of pregnancy. Options include:

• Observation: In cases where the bleeding is minimal and the pregnancy is not yet full-term, careful monitoring may be sufficient.
• Hospitalization: For more severe cases, hospitalization may be necessary to manage bleeding and monitor the health of the mother and baby.
• Cesarean delivery: If the placenta completely covers the cervix, a cesarean section is usually required to safely deliver the baby.

Complications

Placenta praevia can lead to several complications, including:

• Preterm birth
• Hemorrhage
• Placental abruption
• Increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage

See also

• Pregnancy
• Placenta
• Cesarean section
• Vaginal bleeding