Abstract

BACKGROUND: Placenta previa is defined as a placenta that grows from the anterior or posterior wall of the uterus and covers the cervix. The incidence of placenta previa has been increasing in recent years. It is thought that bleeding is more common during surgery in cases with anterior placenta that is closing the cervix. This study investigated the importance of placental location in pregnant women with placenta previa who had a previous cesarean section.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study covered the period from July 2017 to June 2020. The 116 patients included in the study were divided into 2 groups according to placental location: anterior (group 1) and posterior (group 2). All patients had previously delivered via cesarean section. Operation time, presence of invasion, estimated blood loss during surgery, and transfused erythrocyte volume were evaluated. Medical records were used to access the relevant data.

RESULTS: The patients in group 1 and group 2 had an average of 2.71 and 2.01 previous cesarean sections, respectively (P=0.002). The placental invasion (percreta) rate was significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (65.4 vs 5.3%, P<0.001), as was the estimated blood loss during surgery (790 vs 527 mL, P=0.014). The total erythrocyte suspension was considerably higher in group 1 than in group 2 patients (0.8 vs 0.2, P=0.014), both during and after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS: In patients with placenta previa, the location of the placenta should always be examined with ultrasonography to allow better preoperative planning.

Keywords: Cesarean Section, Cesarean Section, Repeat, Placenta Accreta, Placenta Previa