Abstract

Background: Placenta previa should be suspected in any woman beyond 20 weeks of gestation who presents with painless vaginal bleeding. Rapid and significant loss of intravascular volume can lead to hemodynamic instability, decreased tissue perfusion, cellular hypoxia, organ damage, and death. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical outcomes in placenta previa patients. Methods: We enrolled patients presenting to our emergency ward or outpatient clinic with diagnosis of placenta previa from October 1, 2013 till September 30, 2015. Detailed maternal history and demographic profile was obtained for all included patients. Results of all ordered laboratory and ultrasound examination were noted for all included patients. Results: 44 patients satisfied our inclusion and exclusion criteria during the study period. With 3.8 as the mean parity and 35.7 years as the mean age at delivery, 13 had previous vaginal deliveries, 14 had lower section cesarean sections and 10 had a history of abortions. 8 patients had type I placenta previas, 12 type II, 9 type III and 10 type IV placenta previa. Estimated blood loss was approxiamtely 811.7 mL. 2 mothers had to admitted to the intensive care unit after delivery and 14 were admitted to the maternal indoor unit. Mean post-operative hospital stay was 4.2 days. During the study period there were 27 live births, 7 neonatal deaths, 8 were still births. There were 12 babies who were admitted in the neonatal intensive care unit. Mean birth weight of the neonates was 3.8 kgs. There were 13 neonates with an APGAR score of less than 7. Conclusion: Placenta previa increases the risk of antepartum intrapartum and postpartum hemorrhage. In this article we have described our experience of maternal and neonatal outcomes in patients presenting with placenta previa at a tertiary level hospital in Aurangabad