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Am J Perinatol 2024; 41(S 01): e928-e933
DOI: 10.1055/a-1974-9399
Original Article

A Resolved Placenta Previa Is Still Associated with Postpartum Hemorrhage

Sun Woo Kim 
1   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women's Health, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York
,
Rebecca F. Hamm
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
,
Nadav Schwartz
2   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal and Child Health Research Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Abstract

Objective Our objective was to determine whether resolution of a low-lying placenta or placenta previa is associated with postpartum hemorrhage (PPH).

Study Design This is a retrospective, matched-control cohort study of women who underwent transvaginal sonography during fetal anatomic survey between 18 and 24 weeks of gestation at the University of Pennsylvania from January 2017 to May 2019. Exposure was defined as low-lying placenta (≤1 cm from the internal cervical os) or placenta previa (covering the os) at anatomic survey that was found to be resolved by transvaginal ultrasound in the third trimester. For each exposure, we identified a control patient whose placenta was > 1 cm from internal os at anatomic survey performed on the same day. The primary outcome was PPH at delivery, defined as estimated blood loss ≥ 1,000 mL.

Results A total of 450 women were included (225/group). The exposed group of resolved placental previa included 85.0% with resolved low-lying placenta and 15.0% with resolved previa. The rate of PPH was significantly higher in the exposed group versus controls (9.8% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.03). Women with resolved previa were 2.5 times more likely to experience PPH than controls (adjusted odds ratio = 2.58, 95% confidence interval: 1.17–5.69), even when controlling for parity, prior cesarean, and delivery mode. Women with resolved previa were also more likely to present to triage with bleeding (16.4% vs. 8.0%, p = 0.006), receive antenatal corticosteroids, (9.3% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.006), and receive intravenous iron postpartum (7.6% vs. 3.1%, p = 0.04).

Conclusion Our data demonstrate that women with a resolved low-lying placenta or placenta previa remain at significantly increased risk of bleeding-related complications in pregnancy and during delivery when compared with those who never had a previa. Clinicians should consider this association when counseling patients and performing hemorrhage risk stratification.

Key Points

  • Women with resolved previa or low-lying placenta were 2.5 times more likely to experience PPH.

  • Women with resolved previa or low-lying placenta were more likely to be induced for bleeding.

  • Resolved previa or low-lying placenta is still associated with adverse hemorrhage-related outcomes.

Keywords

low-lying placenta - placenta previa - postpartum hemorrhage - resolved previa - resolved placenta previa - resolved low-lying placenta


Publication History

Received: 07 February 2022

Accepted: 01 November 2022

Accepted Manuscript online:
09 November 2022

Article published online:
21 December 2022

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