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Journal of Woman's Reproductive Health

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ISSN: 2381-862X
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Research Article Open Access
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  • Placenta Previa with History of Previous Caesarean Delivery – an Obstetrician's Nightmare

    Mazumder U 1   Rouf S 1   Sarkar S 2  

    1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka , Bangladesh,

    2Head Department of Neurosurgery, Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College, Dhaka,

    Abstract

    Background:

    The nature of placenta previa can be unpredictable and harsh on the mother and baby. These complications are often unpredictable, unpreventable and often leave the labour ward team in a dilemma. This Obstetricians' nightmare is fortunately a rare complication. The frequency of placenta previa at the time of delivery average 1/200 births i.e. 0.5%. Placenta previa is still an important cause of maternal and fetal death in our country. The risk factors are Advanced Maternal age, Multi parity, Previous Cesarean Section, Multiple gestation, Previous Abortions, Previous intrauterine surgery, placenta previa in previous pregnancy, Smoking.

    Objective:

    Identification of risk factors, the feto-maternal outcome and complications of patients having placenta previa with previous caesarean section.

    Methodology:

    This cross sectional study was conducted from July 2012 to June 2015 in Obstetrics and Gynaecology department, Dhaka Medical College hospital. 100 patients of placenta previa were included in this study. Non-probability purposive sampling method was used for selection of patients.

    Results:

    In this study, Socio-demographic profiles, Identification of risk factors, the feto-maternal outcome and complications of patients having placenta previa were assessed. The frequency of placenta previa associated with previous cesarean section was 61%. In demographic profiles of the patients in this study - with a history of previous caesarean section, 78.7% patients were in the age group 26-35. Multiparity was predominant on scarred uterus group (63.9%). Here, demonstrated that > 2 previous history of caesarean section was associated with 80.3% of placenta previa. Regarding maternal outcome, complications like massive haemorrhage, ureteral injury, bladder injury, wound infection, DIC, maternal and perinatal mortality were more in the scarred patients than in the unscarred patients. In our study, 29.5% of morbid adhesion of placenta observed in scarred uterus.

    Conclusions:

    There is significant association of placenta previa with previous cesarean delivery. So, Careful monitoring of high risk pregnancies is of utmost importance. Avoidance of unnecessary caesarean sections and early week’s pregnancy terminations can minimize the Obstetricians' nightmare.

    Author Contributions
    Received 06 Sep 2017; Accepted 22 Oct 2017; Published 29 Oct 2017;

    Academic Editor: Qiuqin Tang, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University

    Checked for plagiarism: Yes

    Review by: Single-blind

    Copyright ©  2017 Mazumder U, et al.

    License
    Creative Commons License     This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

    Competing interests

    The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

    Citation:

    Mazumder U, Rouf S, Sarkar S (2017) Placenta Previa with History of Previous Caesarean Delivery – an Obstetrician's Nightmare. Journal Of Woman's Reproductive Health - 1(4):33-38.

    Download as RIS, BibTeX, Text (Include abstract )

    DOI 10.14302/issn.2381-862X.jwrh-17-1758

    Introduction

    The nature of placenta previa can be unpredictable and harsh on the mother and baby. These complications are often unpredictable, unpreventable and often leave the labour ward team in a dilemma. Nobody likes to be in the 'red' whether it is the bank account or in exam result. Similarly in obstetrics, doctors do not enjoy seeing abnormal vaginal bleeding in the antenatal period. Nerve wrecking decisions have to be taken depending on the severity. This Obstetricians' nightmare is fortunately a rare complication. 2 -5% of all pregnancies, approximately one-third are due to placenta previa. The frequency of placenta previa at the time of delivery average 1/200 births i.e. 0.5%. Placenta previa is still an important cause of maternal and fetal death in our country. The risk factors are Advanced Maternal age, Multiparity, Previous Cesarean Section, Multiple gestation, Previous Abortions, Previous intrauterine surgery, PP (placenta previa) in previous pregnancy, Smoking.

    The Aim of the Present Study:

    Identification of risk factors, the feto-maternal outcome and complications of patients having placenta previa with previous caesarean section.

    Materials & Method

    This cross sectional study was conducted from July 2012 to June 2015 in Obstetrics and Gynaecology department, Dhaka Medical College hospital. 100 patients of placenta previa were included in this study. It was non-probability purposive sampling method.

    The diagnosis of placenta previa for this study was based on sonographic diagnosis during the third trimester at 28 wks gestation or more. Furthermore the diagnosis was confirmed by direct inspection of placental location at the time of caesarean section. The exclusion criteria were incomplete medical records, uncertain gestational age, and placental abruption.

    After selection of patients, two groups were made.

    Group A - Patients of placenta previa with history of previous caesarean delivery (Scarred Uterus)

    Group B (Control)-Patients of placenta previa without history of previous caesarean delivery (Unscarred Uterus)-

    Discussion

    Placenta praevia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in both the developed and developing countries like Bangladesh. The present study showed a strong association of placenta praevia with cesarean section. The frequency of placenta praevia with previous cesarean section came out 61% which is very high (Table 1), that is clearly consistent with other renowned studies regarding this topic. 1

    Similar results were also obtained in a study during the period of 1977-1983 in Loss Angeles hospital series 2. These investigators found the incidence of placenta praevia to be 9.8 per 1000 among women with previous cesarean delivery and 2.6 per 1000 among women without such a history.

    Table 1. Incidence of placenta previa(n=100)
    Stages Frequency Percentage P Value
    Group A(Scarred Uterus) 61 61% <0.05
    Group B(Unscarred Uterus) 39 39%
    Total 100

    Table 2. Socio-demographic profile of two groups(n=100)
    Parameters Group A scarred Uterus(n=61) No.(%) Group B Unscarred Uterus(n=39) No.(%) P value
    Age Group(years)
    16-25 11(18.0%) 11(28.2%)
    26-35 48(78.7%) 27(69.2%) 0.992ns
    36-45 02(3.3%) 01(2.6%)
    Mean±SD 28.16±3.96 28.15±6.12
    Parity
    Nulliparous 00(00%) 07(17.9%)
    1-4 para 39(63.9%) 22(56.4%) 0.164ns
    >5 para 22(36.1%) 10(25.6%)
    Socio economic status
    Low 28(45.9%) 17(17.9%)
    Middle 22(36.1%) 12(25.6%) 0.463ns
    Upper Middle 11(57.4%) 10(56.4%)
    Educational Status
    Illiteracy 5(8.2%) 2(5.1%)
    Primary 17(27.9%) 14(35.9%)
    SSC 21(34.4%) 14(35.9%) 0.597ns
    HSC 17(27.9%) 7(17.9%)
    Graduate 1(1.6%) 2(5.1%)

    Table 3. Obstetric Profile (n=100)
    Parameters Group A (Scarred Uterus) Group B (Unscarred)  P value  
    (n=61) (n=39)
    No. (%) No. (%)
    Antenatal Check Up Regular 32 (52.5%) 22 (56.4%) 0.699NS  
    Irregular 29 (47.5%) 17 (43.6%)
    Gestational weeks      
    <30 3(4.9%) 5(12.8%)  
    31-34 11(18.0%) 5(12.8%) 0.313ns
    35-37 28(45.9%) 21(53.8%)  
    <37 19(31.1%) 8(20.5%)  
    Mean±SD 35.87±2.55 35.21±3.08  
    Location of Placenta      
    Anterior 32 (52.5%) 22 (56.4%) 0.699NS
    posterior 29 (47.5%) 17 (43.6%)  
    Total 61 (100%) 39 (100%)  

    Table 4. Identified Risk factors for scarred uterus (n=61)
    Number of caesarean section Group A (Scarred Uterus) Percentage (%) P value
    (n=61)
    No. (%)
    Previous One 12 19.70% <0.05
    Previous Two 33 54.10%
    Previous Three 16 26.20%

    Table 5. Identified Risk factors (n=100)
    Parameters Group A (Scarred Uterus) Group B (Unscarred) P value
    (n=61) (n=39)
    No. (%) No. (%)
    Previous abortion (Spontaneous/ Induced)     NS
    Present 12 19
    Absent 33 5
    H/O previous Placenta Previa     NS
    Present 12 19
    Absent 33 5

    Table 6. Maternal complications & outcome (n=100)
    Parameters Group A ( Scarred ) (n=61) No. (%) Group B (Unscarred) (n=39) No. (%) p value
    Massive obstetric haemorrhage 42(68.9%) 23(59.0%) 0.312ns
    Bladder injury 27(44.3%) 14(35.9%) 0.407ns
    Ureteral injury 3(4.9%) 1(2.6%) 0.558ns

    Table 7. Maternal complications & outcome in scarred uterus (n=61)
    Parameter Group A (Scarred Uterus) Percentage (%) P value
    (n=61)
    No. (%)
    P. Accreta 12 19.70% <0.05
    P. Increta 33 54.10%
    P. Percreta 16 26.20%
    Total 61 100%  

    Table 8. Comparison of Foetal outcomes in two groups (n=100)
    Foetal outcome Group A (Scarred Uterus) (n=61) No. (%) Group B (Unscarred Uterus)  (n=39) No. (%) p value
    Preterm 23(37.7%) 20(51.3%) 0.181ns
    Low birth weight 24(39.3%) 19(48.7%) 0.256ns

    If we look at the demographic profiles of the patients in this study - with a history of previous caesarean section, 78.7% patients were in the age group 26-35. Similar results were found by Tuzović et al.3. Sclerotic changes in the intramyometrial arteries with increasing age may contribute to placenta previa by reducing blood supply in the placenta. Moreover Hasegawa et al4. have mentioned that advanced maternal age is an independent risk factor of massive hemorrhage during cesarean section in women with placenta previa.

    Multiparity was predominant on scarred uterus group (63.9%). It has been mentioned as a risk factor by previous studies 5, 3. No significant associations of placenta previa with socio-economic status or religion have been found in this study. Usta et al 6 have demonstrated parallel results.

    In addition our study has also demonstrated that previous history of abortions was associated with placenta previa. 54.1% cases of the scarred group & 48.7% of the unscarred group had history of abortion previously. Johnson et al 7) and Hendricks et al8 also found similar results.

    Regarding maternal outcome, complications like massive haemorrhage, ureteral injury, bladder injury were more in the scarred patients than in the unscarred patients. In our study, 54.1% were P. accreta type. Another study carried out in Jordan University of science and technology shows that placenta praevia is higher among gravida >4, para >3 and previous caesarean section and no increased in incidence of placenta praevia with increasing maternal age and previous abortion 9

    Conclusion

    The nature of placenta previa can be unpredictable and harsh on the mother and baby. It is concluded that there is significant association of placenta previa with previous cesarean delivery. Also It demonstrates the feto-maternal outcome and complications associated with placeta previa.

    So, Careful monitoring of high risk pregnancies is of utmost importance. Avoidance of unnecessary caesarean sections and early week’s pregnancy terminations can minimize the Obstetricians' nightmare.

    References

    1.Dashe J S, McIntire D D, Ramus R M, Santos-Ramos R, Twickler D M. (2002) Persistence of placenta previa according to gestational age at ultrasound detection. , Obstet Gynecol 99, 692-697.
    2.Clark S L, Koonings P P, Phelan J P. (1985) Placenta previa/accreta and prior cesarean section. , Obstet Gynecol 66, 89-92.
    3.Tuzović L, Djelmis J, Ilijić M.Obstetric risk factors associated with placenta previa development: case-control study. , Croatian Medical Journal.2003Dec; 44(6), 728-33.
    4.Hasegawa J, Matsuoka R, Ichizuka K, Mimura T, Sekizawa A et al.Predisposing factors for massive hemorrhage during Cesarean section in patients with placenta previa.UltrasoundObstetGynecol.2009Jul;34(1): 80-4.15.Usta IM,Hobeika EM,Musa AA,Gabriel GE,Nassar AH.Placenta previa-accreta:risk factors and complications.Am J Obstet Gynecol.2005Sep;193(3Pt2):. 1045-9.
    5.Gilliam M, Rosenberg D, Davis F. (2002) The likelihood of placenta previa with greater number of cesarean deliveries and higher parity. , ObstetGynecol 99, 976-80.
    6.Usta I M, Hobeika E M, Musa A A, Gabriel G E, Nassar A H.Placenta previa-accreta: risk factors and complications. , Am J Obstet Gynecol.2005Sep;193(3Pt2): 1045-9.
    7.Johnson L G, Mueller B A, Daling J R.The relationship of placenta previa and history of induced abortion. , Int J Gynaecol Obstet.2003May; 81(2), 191-8.
    8.Hendricks M S, Chow Y H, Bhagavath B, Singh K.Previous cesarean section and abortion as risk factors for developing placenta previa. , J Obstet Gynecol Res.1999Apr; 25(2), 137-42.
    9.Zaideh S M, Abu-Heija A T, El-Jallad M F. (1998) Placenta praevia and accreta: analysis of a two-year experience. , Gynecol Obstet Invest 46, 96-98.

    Cited by (1)

    1.Maqsood Umaira, Khanam Saadia, Salman Nayla, Liaqat Jawairiah, Saqib Shazia, et al, 2024, Frequency of Placenta Previa among Women with Previous Cesarean-Section, Pakistan Journal of Health Sciences, (), 215, 10.54393/pjhs.v5i08.2010