Fetal/neonatal outcome in abruptio placentae during preterm gestation

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the fetal/neonatal outcome and to determine the important factors in that outcome, including the use of ultrasonography and fetal heart rate monitoring, in abruptio placentae during preterm gestation. A case-control study was performed using a logistic regression model. Adverse outcome was defined as neonatal death before hospital discharge or a diagnosis of cerebral palsy in surviving neonates. Stillbirth (group 1) occurred in eight of 50 cases of abruptio placentae (16%). Adverse outcome was seen in 11 survivors (11 of 42; 26.2%). The obstetrical disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) score in group 1 (11.8 +/- 7.1) was higher than that in the adverse (5.7 +/- 1.3) and satisfactory (5.3 +/- 2.4) outcome groups. A low Apgar score (< 7) at 5 minutes (odds ratio, 19.8; 95% confidence interval, 2.0 to 197.8) was associated with increased risk of adverse outcome in the logistic regression model. Although the obstetrical DIC score was high and may reflect the severity of maternal complications in the stillbirth group, there were no typical ultrasonographic findings and fetal heart rate patterns in abruptio placentae during preterm gestation predicting adverse outcome among survivors.