| Disease | Injury | Nutrition | Poison |
| Special Topic | Surgery | Symptoms | Test |
| |
| Overview | Symptoms | Treatment | Prevention |
Placenta abruptio |
| Alternative Names: |
| Premature separation of placenta; Accidental hemorrhage; Ablatio placentae; Abruptio placentae; Placental abruption |
| Treatment: |
Treatment includes IV (intravenous) fluid replacement, blood transfusion, and careful monitoring of the mother for symptoms of shock and signs of fetal distress (fetal heart rate too high or too low, or abnormal fetal heart rate changes in relation to contractions). An emergency cesarean section may be necessary for fetal distress or maternal bleeding. In the event of an immature fetus and evidence of only a small placental separation, the mother may be hospitalized for observation and released after several days if no evidence of progressing abruptio occurs. If the fetus is mature, vaginal delivery may be chosen if maternal and fetal distress is minimal; otherwise, a cesarean section may be the preferred choice to protect the mother and the child. |
| Expectations (prognosis): |
The mother does not usually die from this condition. Maternal death rates in various parts of the world range from 0.5 to 5%. Early diagnosis of the condition and adequate treatment should decrease the maternal death rate even further. Fetal death rates range from 20-35 %. Upon hospital admission, no fetal heart tone is detectable in about 15% of cases. Fetal distress appears early in the condition in approximately 50% of cases. The infants who live have a 40 to 50% chance of complications, which range from mild to severe. Concealed vaginal bleeding in pregnancy, excessive loss of blood resulting in shock, absence of labor, a closed cervix, and delayed diagnosis and treatment may increase the risk of maternal or fetal death. |
| Complications: |
| Excessive loss of blood may lead to shock and possible fetal and/or maternal death. If the site of placental attachment starts to hemorrhage after the delivery and loss of blood cannot be controlled by other means, a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) may become necessary.
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| Calling your health care provider: |
| See your health care provider immediately, call the local emergency number (such as 911), or get to the emergency room if you are pregnant and symptoms of placenta abruptio develop. This may rapidly become an emergency condition that threatens both the mother and the baby.
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Reviewed By: Daniel Rein, M.D., Obstetrician and Gynecologist, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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