Abruptio placentae at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu: a 3-year study

A total of 81 cases of abruptio placentae treated in a 3-year period at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu is reported. The incidence of 0.44% found in the study is low when compared to reports from Europe. The outstanding clinical features were high parity, low incidence of renal failure, hypertension and proteinuria. The perinatal mortality of 58% is quite high while 2 mothers who were referred to the Teaching Hospital in poor condition died. Management was by rapid and adequate resuscitation by blood transfusion and delivery as soon as the diagnosis was made. The absence of maternal mortality amongst mothers who received antenatal care at the University Teaching Hospital emphasizes the need for adequate antenatal and intrapartum care in order to eliminate the complications of this obstetrical enigma.