Vasa Previa: An Avoidable Obstetric Tragedy

Variations in reported outcomes in studies on vasa previa: a systematic review

“…For rare conditions such as vasa previa, it is even more important that researchers worldwide report and measure outcomes considered important by patients and stakeholders involved in their care in a consistent manner. This forms the premise of the development of core outcome sets, endorsed by initiatives such as COMET, 14 Core Outcomes in Women's and Newborn Health, 15 and more recently, Outcome Reporting in Obstetric Studies (OROS). 16 The development of COVasP is being undertaken under the auspices of the OROS project, and this systematic review, which lists all outcomes reported in published studies, is the first step in its development.…”

“…- Obstetrics Systematic Review Bohiltea 13 2 Datta 14 1 Iwahashi 15 1 Norvilaite 16 1 Van Steenis 17 1 Zhang 18 1 Hasegawa 19 21 Hasegawa 20 12 Breborowicz 21 1 Habek 22 1 Hosseinzadeh 23 1 Keunen 24 1 Saghir 25 1 Siminel 26 1 Rebarber 27 31 Javid 28 11 (qualitative research study) Kapoor 29 2 Zhang 30 1 Bronsteen 31 60 Golic 32 18 Gibson 33 1 Johnston 34 1 Neuhausser 35 1 Prince 36 1 Zahumensky 37 1 Hasegawa 38 10 Carnide 39 1 Garretto 40 1 Robinson 41 Clinical decision analysis Kanda 42 10 Hasegawa 43 3 Kikuchi 44 1 Komatsu 45 1 Kuwata 46 1 Markham 47 1 Pirtea 48 1 Cipriano 49 Cost-utility analysis Year First author Included pregnancies (n) Hertzberg 89 2 Nomiyama 90 2 Sauerbrei 91 2 Chen 92 1 Nwagbara 93 1 Clerici 94 1 Daly-Jones 95 1 Devesa 96 1 Fleming 97 1 Schellpfeffer…”

An Easy to Miss, but Preventable Tragedy: Vasa Previa

“…Vasa previa is defined as the presence of aberrant fetal vessels running within the membranes near the internal os of the cervix as a result of abnormal placentation. 1 There are two types, depending on if the free vessel is connected to a velamentous cord (type I) or connected to a succenturiate or accessory lobe of the main placenta (type II). 2 The estimated incidence is 1 in 2,500 deliveries, but it is much higher (1 in 700 births) among patients who conceive through assisted reproductive technologies.…”

“… 5 However, there is a consensus that all cases with recognized risk factors should be routinely screened, ideally around mid-gestation (18–26 weeks), through transvaginal ultrasound with color Doppler imaging (CDI). 1 Ruiter et al 5 identified a median prenatal detection rate of 93% and a specificity of 99% when this approach is taken. Nevertheless, some precautions must be considered to rule out a diagnosis of a pseudo vasa previa, namely, confirm the placental cord insertion and reject the presence of a space between the placental vessels and the internal os.…”

Vasa previa: a case report

“…The fetal mortality from undiagnosed vasa previa ranges from 60-70%. 1 It is the unexpected manner in which sudden fetal demise occurs that makes this complication one of the most dreaded and challenging events in modern obstetrics. However, the advent of ultrasonography in obstetric practice has made the diagnosis possible prenatally as early as second trimester.…”