ABSTRACT
Our objective was to compare pregnancy outcomes associated with different types of
placenta previa. This is a retrospective analysis of pregnancies complicated by placenta
previa, from January 1990 to December 1997. Descriptive statistics and comparison
analyses were performed. One hundred seventy-five singleton pregnancies beyond 24
weeks that were complicated by complete, partial, or marginal previa were included.
Differences in pregnancy outcomes between complete, partial, and marginal previas
were: onset of bleeding (29.9 ± 4.5 versus 32.5 ± 6.9 versus 32.7 ± 5.0 weeks, respectively,
p < 0.05), antepartum hospitalization (60.7% versus 38.1% versus 35.1%, respectively,
p < 0.05), gestation at delivery (34.7 ± 3.1 versus 37.4 ± 2.6 versus 36.1 ± 3.0 weeks,
respectively, p < 0.05), birth weight (2498.3 ± 746.8 versus 2978.8 ± 568.3 versus 2813.4 ± 728.4
g, respectively, p < 0.05), and hysterectomy at time of cesarean delivery (20.5% versus 0% versus 8.1%,
respectively, p < 0.05). For all outcome parameters, the partial and marginal previa groups did not
differ. Women with complete placenta previa, as diagnosed with modern ultrasound techniques,
had poorer pregnancy outcome. They were more likely to deliver prematurely and were
more likely to require a hysterectomy at the time of cesarean delivery.
KEYWORDS
Placenta previa - pregnancy outcomes - cesarean hysterectomy
