Chapter: Clinical Cases in Anesthesia : Abruptio Placenta and Placenta Previa
What is the clinical presentation of placenta previa and how is the diagnosis made?
What is the clinical
presentation of placenta previa and how is the diagnosis made?
Bleeding associated with a placenta previa is
not associ-ated with abdominal pain and may be sudden in onset. The amount of
bleeding may range from very mild and inter-mittent to profuse and
life-threatening.
Diagnosis is usually made by ultrasonic
evaluation of the position of the placenta relative to the internal cervical
os. If the diagnosis cannot be made by ultrasound then a vaginal examination
will be performed in the operating room. The patient is brought to the
operating room and prepared for emergency induction of general anesthesia and
cesarean section in the event of profuse hemorrhage after vaginal examination.
This is referred to as a “double set-up” (Table 61.4).
Related Topics