Placental abruption - Symptoms, Causes, Images, and Treatment Options

Diseases

Highlights & Basics

Key Highlights

Placental abruption is the separation of the normally located placenta before delivery of the fetus. It may be concealed or overt.
Frequently presents as vaginal bleeding associated with abdominal pain and contractions in the second half of pregnancy.
Associated with increased perinatal mortality and morbidity. Also a cause of significant maternal morbidity.
Risk factors include smoking, trauma, hypertensive disorders, and cocaine use.
Diagnosis is made clinically. Some ultrasound features may be helpful. Other tests are, for the most part, unreliable.

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History & Exam
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Diagnostics Tests
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Treatment Options
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Definition

Epidemiology

Etiology

Pathophysiology

Images

Types of placental abruption. (A) Revealed placental abruption, where blood tracks between the membranes, and escapes through the vagina and cervix. (B) Concealed placental abruption where blood collects behind the placenta, with no evidence of vaginal bleeding
Ultrasound image of placental abruption: normal placenta is marked "p"; area of abruption depicted by white arrows
Ultrasound image of placental abruption: normal placenta is marked "p"; area of abruption depicted by white arrows
Ultrasound image of placental abruption: normal placenta is marked "p"; area of abruption depicted by white arrows
Ultrasound image of placental abruption: normal placenta is marked "p"; area of abruption depicted by white arrows

Citations

Key Articles

American College of Radiology. ACR appropriateness criteria: second and third trimester bleeding. 2020 [internet publication].[Full Text]
Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), Gyamfi-Bannerman C. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Consult Series #44: Management of bleeding in the late preterm period. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Jan;218(1):B2-8.[Abstract][Full Text]

Referenced Articles

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