The effect of placental abruption on the outcome of extremely premature infants.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of placental abruption on the outcome of infants born between 22 and 26 weeks of gestation.

METHODS

A retrospective study involving 32 cases of placental abruption. Controls were matched to cases according to gestational age and birth weight. Medical records were reviewed to confirm maternal background and neonatal outcome. We compared characteristics of maternal background and neonatal outcome between the two groups.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in the incidence of pregnancy-induced hypertension, low maternal fibrinogen (<200 mg/dl), premature rupture of membrane, intrauterine infection, ischemic changes of the placenta, or funisitis between the groups. Non-reassuring fetal heart rate patterns (NRFHRs) during intrapartum were frequently seen in the placental abruption group compared to controls (75% versus 51%, p = 0.02). However, no differences were found for the incidence of low umbilical artery pH (<7.1), cerebral palsy, or neonatal death. The incidence of chronic lung disease (CLD, 66% versus 43%, p = 0.04) and hemosiderin deposition on the placenta (16% versus 0%, p < 0.01) was higher in abruptions compared to controls.

CONCLUSION

Placental abruption has a risk for the development of NRFHRs and CLD in infants born between 22 and 26 weeks of gestation, but shows no effect on neonatal mortality.