Correlation between placental location and maternal fetal outcome

Abstract

Background: Placenta is the vital link between fetus and the uterine wall. Based on location, it can be classified as anterior, posterior, lateral, fundal and low lying. Placental location can be easily determined in the antenatal period using ultrasound. Materials and Methods: Design: Prospective observational study. Study period: One year from January 2018 to February 2019 in a tertiary hospital in Salem district of Tamilnadu. Study population: After informed consent, 200 women with singleton pregnancy of ≥28 weeks attending antenatal OPD were included in the study. Women were followed up with ultrasound at 28 weeks and 34 weeks to identify any maternal and fetal adverse effects such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm birth and NICU admission. Results: The mean age of the study participants was 24.3 ± 43 years. Of the 200 women, 42% (n=84) of placenta were situated in fundus, 30% (n=60) were anterior, 18% (n=36) were lateral, 8% (n=16) were posterior and 2% (n=4) were low lying. Gestational hypertension was present in 22%, 13%, 12% in lateral, anterior and posterior placental location respectively. Preeclampsia was seen in 22% in lateral placental location. Preterm labour, PROM, low birth weight and NICU admission were common in posterior and lateral placental location.Conclusion:There was statistically significant association between low lying, posterior and lateral placental location and adverse maternal fetal outcomes. Hence ultrasound can be used as the safe, cost effective, non-invasive tool in predicting the adverse maternal and neonatal outcome.

Effect of placental location on intra-uterine growth restriction and gestational hypertension

“…Still at variance, Adekanmi et al (2022) in their longitudinal study design, noticed that placental location was significantly associated with fetal weight (p = 0.002) and posterior placenta was noted to produce one of the highest fetal weights (3.00 ± 0.65 kg). In another longitudinal study, Dhingra et al (2019) observed that posterior placental location was significantly associated with low fetal weight (p < 0.001) including Soleimani et al (2021) who also recorded a significant correlation between placental location and fetal weight (p < 0.001) and that fundal placental location was seen more in fetuses with lower weights than anterior and posterior placentas. Concurring with findings of the present study, Behzadmehr et al (2020) affirmed that there was no relationship between placental location and fetal weight (p = 0.555) even though fetal weight was higher in anterior placental location.…”

Study of correlation between fetomaternal outcome with placental location at a tertiary hospital

“…Dhingra et al studied 200 pregnant women, 42% of placenta were situated in fundus, 30% were anterior, 18% were lateral, 8% were posterior and 2% were low lying. 10 Gestational hypertension was present in 22%, 13%, 12% in lateral, anterior and posterior placental location respectively. Preeclampsia was seen in 22% in lateral placental location.…”

A Cross-Sectional Study to Evaluate the Impact of Placental Location on Maternal and Fetal Outcomes

“…Therefore, the uterine blood supply plays a significant role in the success of placental blood flow and pregnancy [ 2 ]. Hence, abnormalities in the placental implantation may affect the blood supply of the placenta, leading to adverse maternal and fetal outcomes, such as gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, malpresentation, malposition, preterm birth, small for gestational age, fetal growth retardation, low birth weight, intrauterine fetal death, and stillbirth [ 3 ].…”