Second trimester placental location as a predictor of an adverse pregnancy outcome

• Published in: Journal of Perinatology Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 9 - 14
• Main Authors: Magann, E F, Doherty, D A, Turner, K, Lanneau, Jr, G S, Morrison, J C, Newnham, J P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Nature Publishing Group 01.01.2007
• Subjects: Abdomen; Adolescent; Adult; Cervix; Childbirth & labor; Datasets; Female; Gynecology; Hemorrhage; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Middle Aged; Obstetrics; Patient outcomes; Physiological aspects; Placenta; Placenta - pathology; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Pregnancy Complications - pathology; Pregnancy Outcome; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnancy, Complications of; Pregnancy, High-Risk; Risk Factors; Ultrasonic imaging; Uterus; Vagina; Australia; Mississippi; United States > US; Western Australia Australia
• ISSN: 0743-8346; 1476-5543
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.jp.7211621

To determine if the second trimester placental location is associated with perinatal outcomes. Observational study of placental location and the subsequent risk of an adverse pregnancy outcome. Placental location was divided into three categories, low, high lateral and high fundal. There were 3336 pregnancies analyzed in this study. Low implantation sites had a greater risk of preterm labor (odds ratio (OR) 1.70, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38 to 2.90, P<0.001), preterm delivery (OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.36 to 2.54, P<0.001), fewer fetuses with macrosomia (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.83, P=0.010) and reduced risk of postpartum hemorrhage (OR 0.56, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.95, P=0.026). High lateral implantations had a greater risk of low 1-min (OR 1.80, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.93, P=0.017) and 5-min (OR 3.49, 95% CI 1.46 to 8.36, P=0.005) Apgar scores. Low placental implantation was associated with an increased risk of preterm labor, preterm delivery and a reduced risk of postpartum hemorrhage, and of a macrosomic fetus. High lateral implantation was associated with low Apgar scores.