Placental abruption (patient information): Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
(New page: '''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here''' {{Placental abruption (patient information)}} '''Editor-in-Chief:''' C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [mailt...)
 
No edit summary
 
(15 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
__NOTOC__
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Placental abruption|here]]'''
'''For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click [[Placental abruption|here]]'''


{{Placental abruption (patient information)}}
{{Placental abruption (patient information)}}


'''Editor-in-Chief:''' [[C. Michael Gibson]], M.S.,M.D. [mailto:mgibson@perfuse.org] Phone:617-632-7753; '''Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief:''' [[Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan]], M.B.B.S.
'''Editor-in-Chief:''' [[C. Michael Gibson]], M.S.,M.D. [mailto:charlesmichaelgibson@gmail.com] Phone:617-632-7753; {{AE}} [[Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan]], M.B.B.S.
 
'''''Synonyms and Keywords:''''' Premature separation of placenta; Ablatio placentae; Abruptio placentae; Placenta abruptio


==Overview==
==Overview==
Placenta abruptio is the '''separation of the placenta''' (the organ that nourishes the fetus) from its attachment to the uterus wall before the baby is delivered.
Placenta abruptio is the separation of the placenta (the organ that nourishes the fetus) from its attachment to the uterus wall before the baby is delivered.


==What are the symptoms of Placental abruption?==
==What are the symptoms?==
*Abdominal pain
*[[Abdominal pain]]
*Back pain
*[[Back pain]]
*Frequent uterine contractions
*Frequent uterine contractions
*Uterine contractions with no relaxation in between
*Uterine contractions with no relaxation in between
*Vaginal bleeding
*[[Vaginal bleeding]]


==What causes Placental abruption?==
==What are the causes?==
*The exact cause of a placental abruption may be hard to determine.
*The exact cause of a placental abruption may be hard to determine.


*'''Direct causes''' are rare, but include:
*Direct causes are rare, but include:
:*Injury to the belly area (abdomen) from a fall, hit to the abdomen, or automobile accident
:*Injury to the belly area (abdomen) from a fall, hit to the abdomen, or automobile accident
:*Sudden loss of uterine volume (can occur with rapid loss of amniotic fluid or after a first twin is delivered)
:*Sudden loss of uterine volume (can occur with rapid loss of amniotic fluid or after a first twin is delivered)
Line 44: Line 43:
*Call your health care provider if you are in an auto accident, even if the accident is minor.
*Call your health care provider if you are in an auto accident, even if the accident is minor.


*Call your doctor right away if you have '''bleeding during pregnancy'''.  
*Call your doctor right away if you have bleeding during pregnancy.  


*See your health care provider right away, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or go to the emergency room if you are pregnant and have [[vaginal bleeding]] and severe [[abdominal pain]] or contractions during your pregnancy.  
*See your health care provider right away, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or go to the emergency room if you are pregnant and have [[vaginal bleeding]] and severe [[abdominal pain]] or contractions during your pregnancy.  


*Placental abruption can quickly become an '''emergency condition''' that threatens the life of both the mother and baby.
*Placental abruption can quickly become an emergency condition that threatens the life of both the mother and baby.


==Diagnosis==
==Diagnosis==
Line 55: Line 54:
*[[Complete blood count]]
*[[Complete blood count]]
*Fetal monitoring
*Fetal monitoring
*Fibrinogen level
*[[Fibrinogen|Fibrinogen level]]
*Partial thromboplastin time
*[[Partial thromboplastin time]]
*Pelvic exam
*Pelvic exam
*Prothrombin time
*[[Prothrombin time]]
*Vaginal ultrasound
*Vaginal ultrasound


Line 68: Line 67:
*The unborn baby will be watched for signs of distress, which includes an abnormal heart rate.
*The unborn baby will be watched for signs of distress, which includes an abnormal heart rate.


*An '''emergency cesarean section''' may be needed, if:
*An emergency [[cesarean section]] may be needed, if:
:*baby is very premature, and
:*Baby is very premature
:*there is only a small placental separation,
:*There is only a small placental separation


*The mother may be kept in the hospital for close observation. She may be released after several days if the condition does not get worse.
*The mother may be kept in the hospital for close observation. She may be released after several days if the condition does not get worse.


*If the fetus is developed enough, vaginal delivery may be done if it is safe for the mother and child. Otherwise, a cesarean section may be done.
*If the [[fetus]] is developed enough, vaginal delivery may be done if it is safe for the mother and child. Otherwise, a cesarean section may be done.


==Where to find medical care for Placental abruption?==
==Where to find medical care for Placental abruption?==
Line 83: Line 82:
*The mother does not usually die from this condition.  
*The mother does not usually die from this condition.  


*However, all of the following '''increase the risk for death''' in both the mother and baby:
*However, all of the following increase the risk for death in both the mother and baby:
:*Closed cervix
:*Closed cervix
:*Delayed diagnosis and treatment of placental abruption
:*Delayed diagnosis and treatment of placental abruption
Line 90: Line 89:
:*No labor
:*No labor


*'''Fetal distress''' occurs early in the condition in about half of all cases.  
*Fetal distress occurs early in the condition in about half of all cases.  


*Infants who live have a 40-50% chance of complications, which range from mild to severe.
*Infants who live have a 40-50% chance of complications, which range from mild to severe.


==Possible complications==
==Possible complications==
*Excess blood loss may lead to shock and possible death in the mother or baby.  
*Excess blood loss may lead to [[shock]] and possible [[death]] in the mother or baby.  


*If bleeding occurs after the delivery and blood loss cannot be controlled in other ways, the mother may need a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus).
*If [[bleeding]] occurs after the delivery and [[blood loss]] cannot be controlled in other ways, the mother may need a [[hysterectomy]] (removal of the [[uterus]]).


==Prevention==
==Prevention==
Line 105: Line 104:
*Recognizing and managing conditions in the mother such as [[diabetes]] and [[Hypertension (patient information)|high blood pressure]] also decrease the risk of placental abruption.
*Recognizing and managing conditions in the mother such as [[diabetes]] and [[Hypertension (patient information)|high blood pressure]] also decrease the risk of placental abruption.


==Source==
==Sources==
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000901.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000901.htm


{{WH}}
[[Category:Disease]]
{{WS}}
[[Category:For review]]
[[Category:Overview complete]]
[[Category:Template complete]]
[[Category:Disease state]]
[[Category:Patient information]]
[[Category:Patient information]]
[[Category:Obstetrics]]
[[Category:Obstetrics]]
[[Category:Obstetrics patient information]]
[[Category:Emergency medicine]]
[[Category:Emergency medicine]]
[[Category:Emergency medicine patient information]]
 
{{WH}}
{{WS}}

Latest revision as of 14:17, 10 May 2013

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Placental abruption

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

When to seek urgent medical care?

Diagnosis

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Placental abruption?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Prevention

Placental abruption On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Placental abruption

Videos on Placental abruption

FDA on Placental abruption

CDC on Placental abruption

Placental abruption in the news

Blogs on Placental abruption

Directions to Hospitals Treating Placental abruption

Risk calculators and risk factors for Placental abruption

Editor-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S.,M.D. [1] Phone:617-632-7753; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, M.B.B.S.

Overview

Placenta abruptio is the separation of the placenta (the organ that nourishes the fetus) from its attachment to the uterus wall before the baby is delivered.

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

  • The exact cause of a placental abruption may be hard to determine.
  • Direct causes are rare, but include:
  • Injury to the belly area (abdomen) from a fall, hit to the abdomen, or automobile accident
  • Sudden loss of uterine volume (can occur with rapid loss of amniotic fluid or after a first twin is delivered)
  • Placental abruption, which includes any amount of placental separation before delivery, occurs in about 1 out of 150 deliveries. The severe form, which can cause the baby to die, occurs only in about 1 out of 800 to 1,600 deliveries.

Who is at highest risk?

Risk factors include:

When to seek urgent medical care?

  • Call your health care provider if you are in an auto accident, even if the accident is minor.
  • Call your doctor right away if you have bleeding during pregnancy.
  • See your health care provider right away, call your local emergency number (such as 911), or go to the emergency room if you are pregnant and have vaginal bleeding and severe abdominal pain or contractions during your pregnancy.
  • Placental abruption can quickly become an emergency condition that threatens the life of both the mother and baby.

Diagnosis

Tests may include:

Treatment options

  • The mother will be carefully monitored for symptoms of shock.
  • The unborn baby will be watched for signs of distress, which includes an abnormal heart rate.
  • Baby is very premature
  • There is only a small placental separation
  • The mother may be kept in the hospital for close observation. She may be released after several days if the condition does not get worse.
  • If the fetus is developed enough, vaginal delivery may be done if it is safe for the mother and child. Otherwise, a cesarean section may be done.

Where to find medical care for Placental abruption?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Placental abruption

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

  • The mother does not usually die from this condition.
  • However, all of the following increase the risk for death in both the mother and baby:
  • Closed cervix
  • Delayed diagnosis and treatment of placental abruption
  • Excessive blood loss, leading to shock
  • Hidden (concealed) uterine bleeding in pregnancy
  • No labor
  • Fetal distress occurs early in the condition in about half of all cases.
  • Infants who live have a 40-50% chance of complications, which range from mild to severe.

Possible complications

  • Excess blood loss may lead to shock and possible death in the mother or baby.

Prevention

  • Avoid drinking, smoking, or using recreational drugs during pregnancy.
  • Get early and regular prenatal care.
  • Recognizing and managing conditions in the mother such as diabetes and high blood pressure also decrease the risk of placental abruption.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000901.htm

Template:WH Template:WS