ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study is to describe the maternal complications of placenta previa.
A population-based retrospective cohort study including all women delivered in the
province of Nova Scotia, Canada from 1988 to 1995 was performed. Patient information
was obtained from the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database and maternal complications
were described for all women undergoing cesarean delivery. Prognostic factors for
the risk of hysterectomy in woman with placenta previa were analyzed by multiple logistic
regression. During the 8-year period, 308 cases of placenta previa were identified
in 93,996 deliveries (0.33%). Maternal complications included hysterectomy [relative
risk (RR) = 33.26], antepartum bleeding (RR = 9.81), intrapartum (RR = 2.48), and
postpartum (RR = 1.86) hemorrhages, as well as blood transfusion (RR = 10.05), septicemia
(RR = 5.55), and thrombophlebitis (RR = 4.85). Risk factors for need of hysterectomy
in women with placenta previa include the presence of placenta accreta and previous
cesarean delivery.
KEYWORD
Placenta - previa - maternal