Case report of recurrent vasa previa

Vasa previa is a complication of pregnancy, which affects approximately 1:1200 pregnancies, and when undiagnosed prenatally, it can be associated with significant perinatal mortality. This condition is thought to be a sporadic entity without known genetic or familial associations and thus considered to carry a negligible recurrence risk.

We present a case of a 42-year-old gravida 3 para 2 diagnosed on transvaginal ultrasound with a vasa previa at 34 weeks associated with vaginal bleeding, which required an urgent caesarean in a prior spontaneous pregnancy. In the current pregnancy conceived with in vitro fertilisation, she was again diagnosed with a vasa previa at 30 weeks' gestation at transvaginal ultrasound. She ultimately delivered at 37 weeks' gestation via an uncomplicated repeat caesarean.

Patients with vasa previa in one pregnancy may be at risk for recurrence in subsequent pregnancy and thus should be screened in future pregnancies. Further research should be done to explore and identify any risk factors for recurrence of vasa previa.