Placental Abruption

Placental abruption is disruption of the uteroplacental bond that can cause fetal and maternal death. Severe pain, particularly in the setting of cocaine use, should suggest the diagnosis.

Causes

• Several factor that may cause placental abruption such as if you are pregnant with twins or triplets, high blood pressure, use cocaine, diabetes.
• Trauma or injury to the abdomen such as from an auto accident or fall, may also causes placental abruption.
• Placental abruption is caused by an unusually short umbilical cord or rapid loss of amniotic fluid, the fluid that surrounds and protects the baby in the uterus.

Symptoms

• Abdominal and pelvic pain ++++
• Vaginal bleeding ++++ (blood may be trapped between the placenta and uterus)

Signs

• Hypertonic and tender uterus ++++
• Vaginal bleeding ++++
• Back pain +++
• Fetal distress (tachycardia, bradycardia)
• Preterm labor ++
• Maternal shock
• Fetus demise
• Disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)

Treatment

Several treatment for Placental Abruption includes:

• In which treatment, your doctor show the tests that the baby isn't in trouble, then your doctor may admit you to the hospital for monitoring. If your doctor suspects that your abruption is likely to result in preterm delivery, then she will recommend treatment with corticosteroids. These drugs speed maturation of the fetal lungs and other organs and can dramatically cut the incidence of prematurity-related infant deaths and certain complications of early birth.
• Another treatment for placental abruption involves replacing the mother's lost blood with blood transfusions and fluids given through a needle in a vein. When the placental separation is severe, then treatment may require prompt delivery of the baby. However, delivery may be delayed when the placental separation is not as severe, and when the fetus is too immature to insure a healthy baby if delivered. The baby is delivered vaginally when possible. However, a cesarean section may be performed to deliver the baby more quickly if the abruption is quite severe or if the baby is in distress.