Placental abruption

Disease class: Obstetric labor complications

Disease class: Placenta diseases

Placental abruption describes separation of a normally sited placenta from the uterine wall, resulting in maternal haemorrhage into the intervening space.

 

Epidemiology

• occurs in approximately 1/200 pregnancies

Cause

Not known

 

Associated factors:

• proteinuric hypertension
• multiparity
• maternal trauma
• increasing maternal age

Clinical features

• Shock, but it is inconsistent with visible loss
• Pain, constant
• Tender, tense uterus
• Normal lie and presentation
• Foetal heart: absent/distressed
• Coagulation problems
• Beware pre-eclampsia, DIC, anuria