Mode of delivery in parturients with placenta previa

Objective: The current study was set to evaluate mode of delivery and outcome of pregnancies complicated by placenta previa. Methods: This study is based on deliveries at a tertiary care university center during an 11-year period. The outcome of deliveries complicate by placenta previa was compared to control group matched for maternal age, and gravidity, with a study to control ratio of 1:2. Results: Compared with parturients with normal location of the placenta, parturients with placenta previa delivered more frequently by a cesarean (86.3% vs. 31.9%, p < 0.01). Cesarean was carried out for all partureints with complete placenta previa (100.0%), most of partial placenta previa (85.8%) and marginal placenta previa (87.5%) and half (45.5%) of low lying placentas (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Considering the increased rate of maternal and neonatal complications, the fact that the vast majority of parturients with placenta previa are delivered by a cesarean and the calculated increased rate on the total cesarean rate is negligible, it appears that all women with placenta previa should be at least counseled about an option of an elective cesarean.