[Retroplacental hematoma with incomplete symptoms]

In a series of 28 cases of retroplacental haematoma, 12 presented an incomplete clinical syndrome (absence de shock--absence of contracture--presence of foetal heart sounds), usually with an association of back pain and vaginal bleeding. These apparently minor forms can be diagnosed on the basis of the vascular context, their development at the 3rd trimester of pregnancy and by the inevitable repercussions on the foetus. They differ from the typical forms by the lower frequency and severity of this foetal distress, provided these atypical and incomplete symptoms have been correctly interpreted allowing early appropriate intervention. One of the elements of an improved overall prognosis for retroplacental haematomas consists of more effective detection of incomplete, and therefore misleading, forms, which have a high incidence (42.8% of all retroplacental haematomas in our series).