Maternal and neonatal outcome in major placenta previa.

A review of 96 cases of major degree placenta previa managed in King Khalid University Hospital (KKUH), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between 1988 and 1991 was carried out. A policy of "expectant management" with confinement in the hospital, blood transfusions in the antenatal period and cesarean section as the exclusive mode of delivery at maturity was practiced. Tocolytics and cervical cerclage were not used. There was no maternal mortality. The neonatal fetal mortality rate was 41.6/1000 while the incidence of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome was 18.7%. The results are compared with similar studies done elsewhere and analyzed with a view to improving the fetomaternal outcome.