Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe the maternal complications of placenta previa. A population-based retrospective cohort study including all women delivered in the province of Nova Scotia, Canada from 1988 to 1995 was performed. Patient information was obtained from the Nova Scotia Atlee Perinatal Database and maternal complications were described for all women undergoing cesarean delivery. Prognostic factors for the risk of hysterectomy in woman with placenta previa were analyzed by multiple logistic regression. During the 8-year period, 308 cases of placenta previa were identified in 93,996 deliveries (0.33%). Maternal complications included hysterectomy [relative risk (RR) = 33.26], antepartum bleeding (RR = 9.81), intrapartum (RR = 2.48), and postpartum (RR = 1.86) hemorrhages, as well as blood transfusion (RR = 10.05), septicemia (RR = 5.55), and thrombophlebitis (RR = 4.85). Risk factors for need of hysterectomy in women with placenta previa include the presence of placenta accreta and previous cesarean delivery.