Abruptio placentae

Despite our heightened awareness of placental abruption, this condition remains largely unpreventable. The incidence of placental abruption may actually be on the rise due to increasing use of cocaine and "crack" and a greater contribution from abdominal trauma. Whether recurrence of abruption associated with hypertension can be prevented with low-dose aspirin is yet to be determined. Unfortunately, although our recognition of this condition may have improved, placental abruption remains a high cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality.