Clinical analysis and classification of placental abruption

Potential prevention of stillbirth caused by placental abruption: a regional population-based study in Japan

OBJECTIVE

Placental abruption is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes including intrauterine fetal demise, which subsequently results in stillbirth. However, few studies have demonstrated the preventability of stillbirth due to placental abruption. Therefore, we evaluated the possibility of preventing stillbirth caused by placental abruption by reviewing all stillbirths in our region.

METHODS

This study reviewed all stillbirths after 22 weeks of gestation in Shiga Prefecture, Japan from 2010 to 2019, excluding lethal disorders. We evaluated 350 stillbirth cases, with and without placental abruption.

RESULTS

There were 32 stillbirths with PA and 318 without placental abruption. The probability of preventing stillbirth was significantly higher in patients with placental abruption than in those without (30% vs. 8%, p < 0.001). We also determined the recommendations for preventing stillbirths with placental abruption.

CONCLUSION

Some stillbirths caused by placental abruption can be prevented. We recommend improvements to perinatal maternal-fetal care and perinatal emergency transport systems.

Risk Assessment of Critical Obstetric Bleeding With Low-Molecular-Weight Heparin

BACKGROUND

Use of unfractionated heparin (UFH) during the peripartum period is considered to be a higher risk of critical obstetric bleeding compared to low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). However, the evidence for the safety of using LMWH during the peripartum period is currently lacking.

METHODS

This study retrospectively investigated a nationwide medical database to clarify the safety of using LMWH during childbirth. The Japanese Nationwide Diagnosis Procedure Combination database was retrospectively reviewed, and data from women with childbirth between 2018 and 2022 were collected.

RESULTS

Among the overall 354,299 women with childbirth, 3,099 were with obstetric disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), 484 were with critical obstetric bleeding requiring massive red blood cell (RBC) transfusion ≥4,000 cc, and 38 were with maternal death. Among the overall women, each of the anticoagulants other than LMWH was associated with critical obstetrical bleeding with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) greater than 1.0, while LMWH was not associated with critical obstetrical bleeding (aOR, 0.54 (95% confidence interval, 0.11-2.71)). This finding did not change in subgroup analyses among those with Cesarean section. Furthermore, UFH was associated with critical bleeding among the 3,099 women with obstetrical DIC (aOR, 3.91 (2.83-5.46)), while LMWH was not (aOR, 0.26 (0.03-1.37)).

CONCLUSION

The use of UFH was significantly associated with an increased critical obstetric hemorrhage requiring massive RBC transfusion or total hysterectomy. Meanwhile, the use of LMWH was not associated with increased critical obstetric bleeding. LMWH would be safer than UFH to be used for women during childbirth.

[Risk factors for neonatal asphyxia and establishment of a nomogram model for predicting neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture: a multicenter study]

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture and establish a nomogram model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted with 613 cases of neonatal asphyxia treated in 20 cooperative hospitals in Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture from January to December 2019 as the asphyxia group, and 988 randomly selected non-asphyxia neonates born and admitted to the neonatology department of these hospitals during the same period as the control group. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for neonatal asphyxia. R software (4.2.2) was used to establish a nomogram model. Receiver operator characteristic curve, calibration curve, and decision curve analysis were used to assess the discrimination, calibration, and clinical usefulness of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, respectively.

RESULTS

Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that minority (Tujia), male sex, premature birth, congenital malformations, abnormal fetal position, intrauterine distress, maternal occupation as a farmer, education level below high school, fewer than 9 prenatal check-ups, threatened abortion, abnormal umbilical cord, abnormal amniotic fluid, placenta previa, abruptio placentae, emergency caesarean section, and assisted delivery were independent risk factors for neonatal asphyxia (P<0.05). The area under the curve of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia based on these risk factors was 0.748 (95%CI: 0.723-0.772). The calibration curve indicated high accuracy of the model for predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia. The decision curve analysis showed that the model could provide a higher net benefit for neonates at risk of asphyxia.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk factors for neonatal asphyxia in Hubei Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture are multifactorial, and the nomogram model based on these factors has good value in predicting the risk of neonatal asphyxia, which can help clinicians identify neonates at high risk of asphyxia early, and reduce the incidence of neonatal asphyxia.

How to Reach the Best Ultrasound Performance in the Delivery Room

Ultrasonography is an instrument that is present in the maternal-fetal assessment throughout pregnancy and with widely documented benefits, but its use in intrapartum is becoming increasingly relevant. From the assessment of labor progression to the assessment of placental disorders, ultrasound can be used to correlate with physiological findings and physical examination, as its benefit in the delivery room cannot yet be proven. There are still few professionals with adequate training for its use in the delivery room and for the correct interpretation of data. Thus, this article aims to present a review of the entire applicability of ultrasound in the delivery room, considering the main stages of labor. There is still limited research in evidence-based medicine of its various possible uses in intrapartum, but it is expected that further studies can bring improvements in the quality of maternal and neonatal health during labor.

Prospective evaluation of placental abruption in nulliparous women

INTRODUCTION

Because most data on placental abruption are derived from retrospective studies, multiple sources of bias may have affected the results. Thus, we aimed to characterize risk factors and outcomes for placental abruption in a large prospective cohort of nulliparous women.

METHODS

This was a secondary analysis of women enrolled in the Nulliparous Pregnancy Outcomes Study Monitoring-to-be (nuMom2b) study, a prospective observational cohort. Participants were recruited in their first trimester of pregnancy from 8 sites and had 4 study visits, including at delivery. Placental abruption was defined by confirmed clinical criteria. The primary analysis was restricted to abruption identified antepartum and intrapartum. As a secondary analysis, we examined antepartum and intrapartum abruptions separately. We compared risk factors (maternal demographic and clinical characteristics) and outcomes in women with and without placental abruption using univariable and multivariable analyses as appropriate.

RESULTS

9450 women were included in the primary analysis. Abruption was identified in 0.66% (n = 62), of which 35 (56%) were antepartum and 27 (44%) intrapartum. For women with abruption, the mean gestational age at delivery was 35.6 ± 4.4 weeks and 38.8 ± 2.2 weeks for women without abruption. Gravidity was associated with abruption (OR 3.1, 95% CI: 1.6-6.0). In univariate analysis, abruption was associated with cesarean delivery (OR 3.7, 95% CI: 2.2-6.0), blood transfusion (OR 3.8, 95% CI: 1.4-10.7), PPROM (OR 9.0, 95% CI: 5.4-15.1), preterm birth (OR 8.5, 95% CI: 5.1-14.2), SGA (OR 4.0, 95% CI: 2.3-6.95), RDS (OR 5.5, 95% CI: 2.6-11.2), IVH 20.2 (OR 20.2, 95% CI: 5.9-68.8) and ROP (OR 12.2, 95% CI: 2.8-52.6). However, after adjustment for confounders including gestational age, abruption was only associated with increased odds of cesarean delivery and blood transfusion. Results were similar when restricted to antepartum and intrapartum abruptions.

CONCLUSION

Abruption was identified in <1% of nulliparous women. However, few maternal risk factors were identified. Neonatal morbidities were associated with an abruption and were primarily driven by gestational age due to preterm birth.

Risk factors and maternal/fetal outcomes of pregnant women with abruptio placenta: a retrospective, descriptive study

Aim: Abruptio placenta is one of the most important causes of antepartum bleeding and is linked to the major (unpleasant) obstetrics consequences leading to the increased risks of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study is to establish a prevalence in our tertiary hospital and find out the fetal and maternal outcomes, along with the patient’s demographic characteristics and risk factors of abruptio placenta. Material and Method: This trial was carried out in Profesör Doktor Cemil Taşçıoğlu State Hospital, between January 2018 and March 2022. Patient data were extracted from computer system, and files were retrospectively evaluated. We established the fetal and maternal outcomes, along with the demographic characteristics and risk factors of abruptio placenta. All analysis was performed using SPSS software (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 25.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Within the review period there were 7126 deliveries. And 112 cases with abruptio placenta were seen out of the total deliveries. In our population, prevalence of the abruptio placenta was calculated as 1.5%. Because of the incomplete data in certain files, only a total of 102 cases (91%) were eligible for the study. Conclusion: In conclusion, since the abruptio placenta is highly associated with maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, timely diagnosis is crucial to prevent devastating consequenuces.

The main features of placental abruption: Clinical presentation and treatment

Placental abruption is defined as the premature separation of the placenta from the uterus. Rapid diagnosis and adequate medical intervention provide a good outcome, which is not possible in all countries. Any bleeding that occurs in the second half of pregnancy raises the suspicion of placental abruption, which is associated with fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The clinical picture and consequences for the fetus depend on the degree of bleeding and the amount of blood. Complete abruption leads to the disruption of fetal circulation and oxygenation, asphyxia, and stillbirth. In case of partial abruption, the consequences for the fetus depend on the degree of bleeding. In complete abruption, fetal death is inevitable unless an emergency cesarean delivery is undertaken.

Impact of Co-Existing Placental Pathologies in Pregnancies Complicated by Placental Abruption and Acute Neonatal Outcomes

Placental abruption (PA) is a concern for maternal and neonatal morbidity. Adverse neonatal outcomes in the setting of PA include higher risk of prematurity. Placental pathologies include maternal vascular malperfusion (MVM), fetal vascular malperfusion (FVM), acute chorioamnionitis, and villitis of unknown etiology (VUE). We aimed to investigate how placental pathology contributes to acute neonatal outcome in PA. A retrospective cohort study of all placentas with PA were identified. Exposures were MVM, FVM, acute chorioamnionitis and VUE. The primary outcome was NICU admission and the secondary outcomes included adverse base deficit and Apgar scores, need for resuscitation, and small-for-gestational age. A total of 287 placentas were identified. There were 160 (59.9%) of placentas with PA alone vs 107 (40.1%) with PA and additional placental pathologies. Odds of NICU admission were more than two times higher in pregnancies with placental pathologies (OR = 2.37, 95% CI 1.28-4.52). These estimates were in large part mediated by prematurity and birthweight, indirect effect acting through prematurity was OR 1.79 (95% CI 1.12-2.75) and through birthweight OR 2.12 (95% CI 1.40-3.18). Odds of Apgar score ≤ 5 was more than four times higher among pregnancies with placental pathologies (OR = 4.56, 95% CI 1.28-21.26). Coexisting placental pathology may impact Apgar scores in pregnancies complicated by PA. This knowledge could be used by neonatal teams to mobilize resources in anticipation of the need for neonatal resuscitation.