Placental abruption at near-term and term gestations: pathophysiology, epidemiology, diagnosis, and management.

Placental abruption is the premature separation of the placenta from its uterine attachment before the delivery of a fetus. The clinical manifestations of abruption typically include vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain with a wide variety of abnormal fetal heart rate patterns. Clinical challenges arise when pregnant people with this condition present with profound vaginal bleeding, necessitating urgent delivery, especially when there is a concern for maternal and fetal compromise and coagulopathy. Abruption occurs in 0.6% to 1.2% of all pregnancies, with nearly half of abruption occurring at term gestations. An exposition of abruption at near-term (defined as the late preterm period from 34 0/7 to 36 6/7 weeks of gestation) and term (defined as ≥37 weeks of gestation) provides unique insights into its direct effects, as risks associated with preterm birth do not impact outcomes. Here, we explore the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and diagnosis of abruption. We discuss the interaction of chronic processes (decidual and uteroplacental vasculopathy) and acute processes (shearing forces applied to the abdomen) that underlie the pathophysiology. Risk factors for abruption and strengths of association are summarized. Sonographic findings of abruption and fetal heart rate tracings are presented. In addition, we propose a management algorithm for acute abruption that incorporates blood loss, vital signs, and urine output, among other factors. Lastly, we discuss blood component therapy, viscoelastic point-of-care testing, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, and management of abruption complicated by fetal death. The review seeks to provide comprehensive, clinically focused guidance during a gestational age range when neonatal outcomes can often be favorable if rapid and evidence-based care is optimized.

Uterine torsion complicated by severe placental abruption in the second trimester: a case report and literature review.

BACKGROUND: Uterine torsion is a rare obstetric event that can occur during pregnancy and is difficult to diagnose. Its occurrence may lead to serious adverse pregnancy outcomes. CASE INTRODUCTION: The patient was a 33-year-old woman at 30+ 5 weeks' gestation with a singleton pregnancy. The pregnancy course, including fetal growth, and prenatal examinations were regular. Except for a small amount of vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy and treatment with progesterone, there were no prenatal abnormalities, and the patient denied any trauma or sexual history. The patient was admitted to the emergency department with persistent severe pain in the lower abdomen and slight vaginal bleeding during night sleep. Abdominal pain started two hours prior to admission and was accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and dizziness. Examination revealed positive abdominal tenderness, high uterine tone, and no significant intermittent period of uterine contractions, and measurement of the fetal heart rate by means of the nonstress test revealed a rate of 60 beats per minute. Therefore, placental abruption was highly suspected. Subsequently, an emergency cesarean section was performed under general anesthesia. The newborn boy, with Apgar scores of 0-3-4 after birth and weighing 1880 g, was transferred to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and died two days later due to ineffective rescue. After the uterine incision was sutured, the examination revealed that the uterine incision was located on the posterior wall of the uterus, and the uterus was twisted 180° to the right. The diagnosis after cesarean section was 180° uterine torsion to the right, severe placental abruption, and severe neonatal asphyxia. On the fifth day after surgery, the patient recovered and was discharged from the hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior uterine incision cesarean section may be performed in unexpected circumstances and is also feasible as a safe option for resetting if torsion is not complete. Abdominal pain during pregnancy is less likely to be diagnosed as uterine torsion, which often leads to premature birth, fetal asphyxia, placental abruption, and even perinatal death. Therefore, for abdominal pain during pregnancy, obstetricians should consider the possibility of uterine torsion.

The Association between Placental Abruption and Platelet Indices.

Objective: Placental abruption (PA) is an obstetric emergency. This study investigated the use of platelet indices in PA in its early stages to determine if it could aid in diagnosis. Materials and Methods: Sixty-two pregnant women with PA and 130 pregnant women who delivered due to idiopathic preterm delivery were included in this case-control study. Blood samples including platelet indices, biochemical, and coagulation parameters were obtained before cesarean section. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were recorded. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups as to hemoglobin, hematocrit, and white blood count. Platelet, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) were significantly lower, platelet distribution width (PDW) was significantly higher in the PA patients. Conclusion: In the current study, MPV and PLR were lower and PDW was higher in PA patients. These parameters may be useful in assessment of PA.

Abruptio Placenta among Pregnant Women Admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a Tertiary Care Centre: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study.

Introduction: Abruptio placenta is the complete or partial separation of the normally implanted placenta before delivery of the foetus. It is one of the commonest causes of antepartum haemorrhage affecting maternal and foetal outcomes. Early detection and timely intervention of abruptio placenta in daily clinical practice are important to improve maternal and perinatal outcomes. The objective of the study was to find out the prevalence of abruptio placenta among the pregnant women admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care centre. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was done among the pregnant women admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in a tertiary care centre where data from medical records was taken from 1 January, 2021 to 31 December, 2021 after taking ethical approval from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: 1102202208). Demographic details of the patients including age and parity were recorded. Convenience sampling was done. Point estimate and 95% Confidence Interval were calculated. Results: Out of 1514 deliveries, abruptio placenta was seen in 10 (0.66%) (0.25-1.07, 95% Confidence Interval) cases. Conclusions: The prevalence of abruptio placenta among pregnancies was similar to the studies done in similar settings. Keywords: abruptio placenta; epidemiology; fetal outcome; incidence; maternal outcome.

Shock caused by spontaneous rupture uterine vessels during puerperal period: a case report and literature review.

Hemoperitoneum caused by spontaneous rupture of uterine vessels during delivery is relatively rare in obstetric hemorrhage, and even rarer during the puerperal period. It can be life-threatening without timely diagnosis and treatment; therefore, the literature on this topic is very scarce. To explore its etiology and identify its diagnosis and treatment principle, we are reporting a case of shock caused by spontaneous rupture of uterine vessels admitted in our hospital. Its etiology is still unknown, its presenting symptoms are commonly unspecific, and its diagnosis is often made during the surgery. The rupture of uterine vessels during pregnancy should be differentiated from placental abruption, uterine rupture, placenta implantation through the uterus, and abdominal organ rupture. Active and timely operative intervention can prevent the mortality. This case stresses the need for careful post-delivery monitoring for revealed postpartum hemorrhage. We will discuss possible etiologies of uterine vessels rupture during pregnancy, associated imaging findings, and management options.

Reduced mechanical function of the left atrial predicts adverse outcome in pregnant women with clustering of metabolic risk factors.

INTRODUCTION: The left atrial (LA) strain and strain rate are sensitive indicators of LA function. However, they are not widely used for the evaluation of pregnant women with metabolic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the LA strain and strain rate of pregnant women with clustering of metabolic risk factors and to explore its prognostic effect on adverse pregnancy outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-three pregnant women with a clustering of metabolic risk factors (CMR group), fifty-seven women with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH group), fifty-seven women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM group), and fifty matched healthy pregnant women (control group) were retrospectively evaluated. LA function was evaluated with two-dimensional speckle-tracking imaging. Iatrogenic preterm delivery caused by severe preeclampsia, placental abruption, and fetal distress was regarded as the primary adverse outcome. RESULTS: The CMR group showed the lowest LA strain during reservoir phase (LASr), strain during contraction phase (LASct) and peak strain rate during conduit phase (pLASRcd) among the three groups (P < 0.05). LA strain during conduit phase (LAScd) and peak strain rate during reservoir phase (pLASRr) in the CMR group were lower than those in the control and GDM groups (P < 0.05). Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated systolic blood pressure (HR = 1.03, 95% CI 1.01-1.05, p = 0.001) and LASr (HR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.80-0.92, p < 0.0001) to be independent predictors of iatrogenic preterm delivery. An LASr cutoff value ≤ 38.35% predicted the occurrence of iatrogenic preterm delivery. CONCLUSIONS: LA mechanical function in pregnant women with metabolic aggregation is deteriorated. An LASr value of 38.35% or less may indicate the occurrence of adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Easily generated hematological biomarkers and prediction of placental abruption.

OBJECTIVE: Placental abruption (PA) is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Increasing evidence has shown an association between abruption and inflammation as well as utilization of hematological biomarkers to predict the later. We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet to lymphocyte ration (PLR) taken early in pregnancy in predicting later occurrence of PA. STUDY DESIGN: A nested case control study, which compared parturient with PA (cases) to parturient without PA (controls). Parturient were matched by hospitalization date and maternal age. Demographic, clinical, and obstetrical characteristics were retrieved. Hematological indices derived from complete blood count taken during the first trimester of pregnancy, specifically NLR and PLR were retrieved and compared between the groups. Mann-Whitney and T-test were performed for not normally and normally distributed continuous variables respectively, categorical variables were analyzed using Chi-Square or Fisher Exact test as appropriate. RESULTS: The study comprised of 232 patients. Of these, 131 had suffered from PA and 131 without PA. Parturient who had PA has significantly higher rates of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, mean neutrophil, lymphocyte and platelet count did not differ between the groups. A comparison of NLR and PLR between the study groups yielded no significant differences. CONCLUSION: NLR and PLR taken early in the course of pregnancy were not found associated with PA. Given the potentially severe consequences of PA, the biological plausibility and the readiness of these hematological markers, further investigation of this method with larger, prospective studies are needed.

Clinical analysis and classification of placental abruption.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the diagnosis, treatment, and maternal and fetal outcomes of placental abruption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We recruited 585 cases of placental abruption from the Women and Children's Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University between January 2012 and December 2017. Cases were categorized into four groups (class 0-III) according to the clinical guidelines published by the Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association. We then compared clinical data and auxiliary examinations across the four groups. RESULTS: The differences were statistically significant (p < .01) among the four groups of placental abruption with regard to the incidence of an abnormal ultrasound finding. Positive ultrasound signs were evident in 6.4% of the patients categorized as class 0 and 100.0% of patients categorized as class III. Monitoring showed that fetal heart rate (FHR) was abnormal in class II patients with placental abruption; patients in class III showed no fetal heart sounds. Cesarean section was carried out for 26.6%, 75.1%, 65.2%, and 47.1% of patients in classes 0, I, II, and III, respectively. The rate of cesarean section for classes I and II was the highest, while the lowest rate occurred for class 0. Postpartum hemorrhage occurred in 2.5%, 9.3%, 15.2%, and 29.4% of patients across the four groups, DIC occurred in 0.0%, 1.3%, 2.3%, and 23.5% of cases, and perinatal death occurred in 1.0%, 1.3%, 7.6%, and 100.0% of cases, respectively. The highest incidence of postpartum hemorrhage was in class III (29.4%) and the lowest was in class 0 (2.5%). The highest incidence of DIC was in class III (23.5%) and the lowest was in class 0 (0.0%). The highest incidence of neonatal asphyxia was in class II (34.1%) and the lowest was in class 0 (10.1%). Regarding perinatal death, the highest incidence was in class III (100.0%) and the lowest was in class 0 (1.0%). These data showed significance differences when compared across the four groups of patients (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend that the diagnosis of placental abruption should consider risk factors, clinical features, FHR monitoring, and dynamic ultrasound monitoring. Early diagnosis and treatment can improve maternal and infant prognosis.

The predictive value of pre-delivery laboratory test results for the severity of placental abruption and pregnancy outcome.

INTRODUCTION: To analyze the relationship between placental abruption severity and maternal pregnancy outcome and to explore the predictive value of pre-delivery laboratory test results for the severity of placental abruption. METHODS: The clinical datas of 126 patients with placental abruption diagnosed and treated in our hospital over the past 4 years were retrospectively analyzed. The severity of placental abruption was divided into degrees I to III. The pre-delivery laboratory results of all patients and data on maternal and fetal delivery outcomes were collected. RESULTS: The analysis of maternal outcomes showed that the volumes of antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum hemorrhage and the rates of utero-placental apoplexy, uterine compression sutures and vascular embolization significantly increased with increasing placental abruption severity. Fetal delivery data revealed that 1- and 5-min Apgar scores decreased significantly with increasing placental abruption severity. Pre-delivery laboratory findings suggest that the white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, albumin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), creatinine, prothrombin time (PT), prothrombin activity, prothrombin time - international standardization ratio (INR), D-dimer, fibrinogen (FIB), and fibrin degradation products (FDP) changed significantly with increasing placental abruption severity. Further analysis by Spearman and Pearson correlation found that the pre-delivery volume of antepartum hemorrhage, D-dimer, FDP and other indicators were correlated with placental abruption severity. CONCLUSIONS: The harm of placental abruption to pregnant women and neonates increases with increasing abruption severity. Some laboratory test results can be predictors of placental abruption degree.

Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) and placental abnormalities.

Objectives Assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may be associated with placental abnormalities including placenta previa, umbilical cord abnormalities, and placental abruption. Our study evaluates the relationship between ART and placental abnormalities compared with spontaneously conceived controls. Methods An IRB-approved cohort study was conducted including women who delivered between January 2013 and December 2018. We excluded delivery prior to 23 weeks and known fetal anomalies. Patients were matched with controls (2:1) for parity, age, and mode of delivery. Controls were women who had spontaneously conceived and delivered immediately preceding and following the index delivery. The primary outcome was placental abnormalities found on both antenatal ultrasound and pathology in ART gestations compared with spontaneously conceived gestations. Results There were 120 ART pregnancies and 240 matched control pregnancies identified. The groups were similar for parity, BMI, comorbidities, number of multiples, mode of delivery, and female newborns. The ART group had a higher maternal age (37.1±5 y vs. 30.0±5 y; p<0.001), greater preterm birth (29 vs. 6%; p<0.001), and lower BW (2,928±803 g vs. 3,273±586 g; p<0.001). The ART group had a higher incidence of placenta previa on ultrasound (4.0 vs. 0.4%, p=0.01), adherent placentas at delivery (3 vs. 0% p=0.014), placental abruption (2 vs. 0%; p=0.04), as well as an increased rate of velamentous cord insertion (12 vs. 3%, p<0.001) and marginal cord insertion (28 vs. 15%, p=0.002). ART demonstrated a two-fold likelihood of abnormal placental pathology. Conclusions ART is associated with increased rate of placental abnormalities, including abnormal umbilical cord insertion and increased rates of adherent placentation. This information may be beneficial in planning and surveillance in patients with ART pregnancies.

When the Fetus Goes Still and the Birth Is Tragic: The Role of the Placenta in Stillbirths.

Because of the critical role that placental structure and function plays during pregnancy, abnormal placental structure and function is closely related to stillbirth: when an infant dies before birth. However, understanding the role of the placental and specific lesions is incomplete, in part because of the variation in definitions of lesions and in classifying causes of stillbirths. Nevertheless, placental abnormalities are seen more frequently in stillbirths than live births, with placental abruption, chorioamnionitis, and maternal vascular malperfusion most commonly reported. Critically, some placental lesions affect the management of subsequent pregnancies. Histopathological examination of the placenta is recommended following stillbirth.

Reappraisal of the relationship between 24-hour proteinuria and preeclampsia in terms of the maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Objective: This study evaluated the association between proteinuria levels and maternal, and perinatal outcomes of preeclampsia patients and determined the cutoff values for predicting severe complications.Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the records of 412 patients with proteinuric preeclampsia.Results: Median proteinuria levels were significantly higher in patients with severe maternal and adverse perinatal outcomes than in those without such outcomes, except in cases of placental abruption and late preterm delivery.Conclusion: Proteinuria levels may aid in diagnosing preeclampsia and indicating early intervention. The revised guidelines do not suggest that proteinuria encountered during pregnancy is clinically insignificant.

Do Increased Intra-alveolar Squamous Cells at Autopsy Correlate With Acute Fetal Asphyxia?

It is a generally held concept that finding increased aspirated amniotic fluid squames at autopsy supports a diagnosis of acute fetal asphyxia, the massive aspiration of squames being an indicator of terminal gasping. To evaluate this concept, we identified autopsies on 15 third-trimester stillborns with clinical acute placental abruption (acute asphyxia); 13 also had thymic petechiae and none had severe acute thymic involution, findings also supporting acute asphyxia. Thirty third-trimester stillborns with findings supporting a subacute or chronic mode of death, including severe thymic involution and absence of thymic petechiae, comprised the comparison group. Intra-alveolar squames were scored as 0, no squames; 1+, scattered squames singly or in small groups; and 2+, squames in many alveoli, at least focally in compacted clusters. In all cases, the squames were patchily distributed, and none received a score of 0. In the abruption group, the intra-alveolar squames were scored as 1+ in 12 (80%) and as 2+ in 3 (20%) cases, while in the comparison group, the squames were scored as 1+ in 20 (67%) and 2+ in 10 (33%) cases (P = NS). There was also no difference in the quantification of intra-alveolar squames in term compared to preterm stillborns. In conclusion, quantification of intra-alveolar squames did not aid in separating an acute mode of death (acute asphyxia) from subacute or chronic modes of death.

Factors associated with pregnancy outcomes in women with a history of cerebral sinus venous thrombosis.

To collect and summarize pregnancy outcomes among women with a history of cerebral sinus vein thrombosis (CSVT). A retrospective multicenter case-control study. The study group comprised all women diagnosed with CSVT during 2004-2018 at four university hospitals, and with follow-up data of pregnancy. A control group of women with a singleton pregnancy was established by matching, four-to-one, according to maternal age. The data of 74 pregnancies of 65 women with CSVT were analyzed. The median time-to-pregnancy interval from the CSVT was 4.2 [2.7-6.8] years. Anticoagulation therapy in the form of enoxaparin was administered in 68 (91.9%) pregnancies. Adjunctive low-dose aspirin was used throughout 12 (16.2%) pregnancies. Overall, 54 (73.0%) of the pregnancies ended in live births and 20 (27.0%) in miscarriage. The use of anticoagulation therapy during pregnancy was positively associated with live birth outcome (P < 0.001). Late adverse outcomes were encountered in 19 (25.7%) pregnancies, including the delivery of a small for gestational age infant (n = 12), gestational hypertensive disorders (n = 6) and placental abruption (n = 3). The use of adjunctive aspirin was associated with a lower rate of late adverse pregnancy outcomes (P = 0.03). No recurrent CSVT, thrombosis at other sites, and major bleeding episodes were observed during pregnancy. Live-birth rate was higher (P = 0.007) and the rate of late adverse outcome was lower (P = 0.01) for the control (n = 296) than the study group. Among pregnant women with a prior CSVT, no recurrent thrombosis events were observed during gestation. The use of prophylactic anticoagulation was associated with live birth. The use of adjunctive aspirin should be further studied in this setting, as its utilization correlated with a lower rate of late pregnancy complications.

Exposure to Asian dust within a few days of delivery is associated with placental abruption in Japan: a case-crossover study.

OBJECTIVE: Asian dust is a natural phenomenon in which dust particles are transported from desert areas in China and Mongolia to East Asia. Short-term exposure to Asian dust has been associated with cardiovascular disease through mechanisms such as systemic inflammation. Because inflammation is a potential trigger of placental abruption, exposure may also lead to abruption. We examined whether exposure to Asian dust was associated with abruption. DESIGN: A bi-directional, time-stratified case-crossover design. SETTING AND POPULATION: From the Japan Perinatal Registry Network database, we identified 3014 patients who delivered singleton births in hospitals in nine Japanese prefectures from 2009 to 2014 with a diagnosis of placental abruption. METHODS: Asian dust levels were measured at Light Detection and Ranging monitoring stations, and these measurements were used to define the Asian dust days. As there was no information on the onset day of abruption, we assumed this day was the day before delivery (lag1). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Placental abruption. RESULTS: During the study period, the Asian dust days ranged from 15 to 71 days, depending on the prefecture. The adjusted odds ratio of placental abruption associated with exposure to Asian dust was 1.4 (95% confidence interval = 1.0, 2.0) for cumulative lags of 1-2 days. Even after adjustment for co-pollutant exposures, this association did not change substantially. CONCLUSIONS: In this Japanese multi-area study, exposure to Asian dust was associated with an increased risk of placental abruption. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Exposure to environmental factors such as Asian dust may be a trigger of placental abruption.

Cerebrovascular disease after placental abruption: A population-based prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To test whether abruption during pregnancy is associated with long-term cerebrovascular disease by assessing the incidence and mortality from stroke among women with abruption. METHODS: We designed a population-based prospective cohort study of women who delivered in Denmark from 1978 to 2010. We used data from the National Patient Registry, Causes of Death Registry, and Danish Birth Registry to identify women with abruption, cerebrovascular events, and deaths. The outcomes included deaths resulting from stroke and nonfatal ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. We fit Cox proportional hazards regression models for stroke outcomes, adjusting for the delivery year, parity, education, and smoking. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) follow-up in the nonabruption and abruption groups was 15.9 (7.8-23.8) and 16.2 (9.6-23.1) years, respectively, among 828,289 women with 13,231,559 person-years of follow-up. Cerebrovascular mortality rates were 0.8 and 0.5 per 10,000 person-years among women with and without abruption, respectively (hazard ratio [HR] 1.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.9-3.0). Abruption was associated with increased rates of nonfatal ischemic stroke (HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.7) and hemorrhagic stroke (HR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.9). The association of abruption and stroke was increased with delivery at <34 weeks, when accompanied by ischemic placental disease, and among women with ≥2 abruptions. These associations are less likely to have been affected by unmeasured confounding. CONCLUSION: Abruption is associated with increased risk of cerebrovascular morbidity and mortality. Disruption of the hemostatic system manifesting as ischemia and hemorrhage may indicate shared etiologies between abruption and cerebrovascular complications.

The relationship between prenatal psychological stress and placental abruption in Japan, The Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS).

BACKGROUND: Prenatal psychological stress may increase the risk of placental abruption (PA). This study aimed to clarify the effects of psychological distress during pregnancy and exposure to stressful life events in the year before or during pregnancy on the occurrence of PA in Japanese women. METHODS: Using a nationwide prospective birth cohort study, we obtained data from 103,099 women between January 2011 and March 2014. Information on exposure to 14 stressful life events and psychological distress (Kessler 6 scale) was collected using a self-administered questionnaire during pregnancy. Clinical diagnoses of PA were obtained from medical records. A total of 80,799 women with singleton births were analyzed using logistic regression models that adjusted for possible confounders. RESULTS: PA was diagnosed in 335 (0.4%) women. There was no significant difference in the Kessler 6 score during pregnancy between the PA group and non-PA group. Exposure to the death of a child in the year before or during pregnancy was significantly associated with PA in multigravid women (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50-8.34). A spouse's loss of employment was significantly associated with PA in parous women (aOR 3.25; 95% CI 1.40-7.56). CONCLUSIONS: This study identified the possible effects of exposure to the death of a child on PA occurrence that adjusted for important confounding factors.