Risk factors associated with retained placenta after cesarean delivery.

OBJECTIVES

Retained placenta after cesarean delivery (RPAC) is a rare phenomenon that has not been previously studied in detail. The objective of our study was to identify potential risk factors that predispose to the development of this obstetrical complication.

METHODS

We performed a retrospective case-control study comparing 20 cases of RPAC with 40 matched controls, using logistic regression models to test likely risk factors.

RESULTS

RPAC occurred in 0.16% of cesarean deliveries in our population. The crude odds ratio (OR) of RPAC was increased in patients who had preterm delivery (PTD) (OR=9.06, 95% CI: 2.04-40.29), conceived with artificial reproductive technology (ART) (OR=5.03, 95% CI: 1.24-20.40), and carried multiples (OR=18.89, 95% CI: 2.29-151.23). Conversely, for each week of gestation the odds of RPAC decreased by 0.57 (95% CI: 0.40-0.82).

CONCLUSIONS

Earlier gestational age, PTD, use of ART and multiples are associated with increased OR of RPAC.