31 weeks pregnant with Complete Placenta Previa

Re: 31 weeks pregnant with Complete Placenta Previa

• Kadyra member

  July 2009

  I've done them on ladies with placenta previas... It's extremely, extremely rare.  It's really only necessary in cases of placenta previa with accreta, which usually occurs in women with previous c-sections or D&C's.  Usually if there's excessive bleeding at the time of a c-section for placenta previa, they're prepared and have precautions taken to save the woman's uterus.

  For example, at both the hospitals where I work, we have a massive transfusion protocol for obstetrics.  They will basically open the blood bank up to us and give us everything we need without waiting 1-2 hours for each unit.  This has saved lives and uteri.  There are also special suturing techniques, called B-lynch and O'Leary that can prevent hemorrhage and make a uterus behave normally.  There is also something called a Bakhri Balloon that can make a uterus behave and stop bleeding and save it-- I've even seen it save a placenta accreta uterus one time.  And, of course, if your hospital offers it, there is uterine artery embolisation, to help stop blood flow to the uterus.

   However, in the unlikely event that a hysterectomy is needed for a placenta previa, it's a big deal.  We have either our advanced pelvic surgeons as assists or our gyn oncologists there to assist.  The blood loss is pretty high, and everyone gets transfused and then stays in the ICU.  The post-op infection rate is high.  The mortality rate is high because blood loss is incredible.  We have lost one patient in 3 years, but to me, that's one too many. 

   Hysterectomy isn't just a potential risk for people with previas, by the way.  Anyone who goe sin for a c-section is at risk.  I tell all my patients that.  It's not a big risk, but any time an organ is cut on, you risk losing it. 

  I know this all sounds very, very scary, but your risk of actually having this (unless you have an accreta) is extremely low.  Think positive thoughts-- no bleeding, happy healthy baby, and happy healthy mom with an nice easy c-section-- and concentrate on what's good.  I've done lots more normal c-sections for previas than I have cesarean hysterectomies for them.  But it's good to know the risk.

  

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• sexydrj82

  July 2009

  Thank you Andrea for the reply. I have been very worried since I found out that I have complete previa.

  Report0 Reply