Incidental sonographic finding of a concealed placental abruption leading to delivery at 37 weeks' gestation

Placental abruption occurs clinically in approximately 1% of births although placental pathology assessment suggests a higher incidence. Ultrasound rarely plays a role in the diagnosis or clinical management of patients with suspected placental abruption. A patient with an incidental sonographic finding of a large concealed abruption at 36 weeks' gestation, led to induction of labor. This case and the established association of increased stillbirth with placental abruption among patients of advanced maternal age, suggest that at term, following sonographic findings of abruption, consideration should be given to elective delivery of these patients even in the absence of clinical symptomatology.