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EntityQ1471410· pop 36· linked from 256 articles

placenta praevia

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placenta disease that is characterized by placenta attachment to the uterine wall close to or covering the cervix

Key facts

Other names
Placenta previa
Specialty
Obstetrics
Symptoms
Bright red vaginal bleeding without pain
Complications
Mother : Bleeding after delivery , Baby : Fetal growth restriction
Usual onset
Second half of pregnancy
Risk factors
Older age, smoking , prior cesarean section , labor induction , or termination of pregnancy
Diagnostic method
Ultrasound
Differential diagnosis
Placental abruption
Treatment
Bed rest , cesarean section
Frequency
0.5% of pregnancies

via Wikipedia infobox

Research

6,408 papers

via PubMed

~13 min read

Encyclopedic overview

In placenta praevia (or placenta previa), the placenta attaches inside the uterus in a position that partially or completely covers the cervical opening. Symptoms include vaginal bleeding in the second half of pregnancy. The bleeding is bright red and tends not to be associated with pain. Complications may include placenta accreta, dangerously low blood pressure, or bleeding after delivery. Complications for the baby may include fetal growth restriction.

Risk factors include pregnancy at an older age and smoking as well as prior cesarean section, labor induction, or termination of pregnancy. Diagnosis is by ultrasound. It is classified as a complication of pregnancy.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “placenta praevia” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.