Placenta Pathology From Term Born Neonates With Normal or Adverse Outcome.

Background: The incidence of umbilical cord or placental parenchyma abnormalities associated with mortality or morbidity of term infants is lacking.

Methods: Placentas of 55 antepartum stillbirths (APD), 21 intrapartum stillbirths (IPD), 12 neonatal deaths (ND), and 80 admissions to a level 3 neonatal intensive care unit (NS) were studied and compared with 439 placentas from neonates from normal term pregnancies and normal outcome after vaginal delivery (NPVD) and with 105 placentas after an elective caesarian sections (NPEC).

Results: NPVD and NPEC placentas showed no or one abnormality in 70% and placentas from stillbirth showed two or more abnormalities in 80% of cases.