STUDY OF SYMPTOMATIC PLACENTA PREVIA LEADING TO TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY BEFORE 36 WEEKS OF GESTATION

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of maternal and foetal outcomes among women with symptomatic placenta previa requiring termination of pregnancy before 36 weeks of gestation.

METHODOLOGY

A total of 175 pregnant women aged 18–45 years with symptomatic placenta previa were enrolled using non-probability consecutive sampling. Inclusion required ultrasound-confirmed placenta previa with antepartum bleeding 36 weeks before. Major and minor placenta previa were compared. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were analysed using chi-square and t-tests with p ≤0.05 considered significant.

RESULTS

The mean maternal age was 29.8 ± 4.6 years. Major placenta previa accounted for 60.0% of cases. Postpartum haemorrhage (61.9% vs 32.9%; p=0.001), blood transfusion (78.1% vs 45.7%; p<0.001), caesarean hysterectomy (p=0.006), and NICU admission (<32 weeks vs ≥32 weeks; p<0.001) were significantly higher in high-risk groups.

CONCLUSION

It is to be concluded that symptomatic placenta previa leading to termination before the 36 weeks was associated with considerable maternal haemorrhagic morbidity and adverse neonatal outcomes. Major placenta previa demonstrate the significantly higher risks of postpartum haemorrhage, blood transfusion, and caesarean hysterectomy, while earlier gestational age at termination was associated with increased neonatal intensive care admission and stillbirth.