placenta previa pearls please!

From: S Osterling M.D. (sdoesterling-obgyndotnet@yahoo.com)
Mon Mar 6 20:19:46 2006


I did a section for an anterior previa today.

Everything went well, but I didn't have a real firm pre-op plan - other than open uterus, take out baby, keep blood in mom where it belongs.

Seriously, I scanned her pre-op and found more placenta on her left. It was about 1/3 the way up the anterior abdominal wall. Intra-op I palpated the uterus to find the thinest part of the lower segment, where i though head was for sure (it was on the right)

I opened the uterus in this spot and saw placenta. I had to bluntly dissect through the placenta, rupture membranes, and use fundal pressure to bring the head down. At this point the placenta was in the way. I put on the forceps and easily brought the kid out.

Overall, minimal bleeding - like 600 ml in the suction, 200 more on the laps. Apgars 7/8.

Does anyone have any pearls? Should I have made a high classical incision and stayed well above the placenta? Should I have made the incision where I usually do and delivered across the center of the placenta?

Outcome in this case was good, but I'd rather have more ideas and options for next time.

PS- Do you deliver at a set gestational age or do you tap at 36?

S. Osterling M.D. California





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