Placenta Praevia: A Retrospective Review of Experience at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu.

Background: Placenta praevia is the most common cause of antepartum haemorrhage. It is a potentially life threatening condition associated with morbidity and mortality. There is no study on the pattern and management of placenta praevia in Sagamu.

Aim And Objectives: To determine the risk factors, pattern of presentation and management outcome of pregnancies complicated by placenta praevia.

Design: This was a five-year retrospective study Setting: Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: Relevant information was retrieved from the case notes of all patients who presented with placenta praevia from 1st January, 2013 to 31st December, 2017. The data were analyzed by using SPSS version 21.

Results: Out of the 5124 deliveries, there were 47 cases of placenta praevia giving a prevalence of 0.92%. Twenty-one subjects (50%) were within 31-40 years age group. The modal parity was 1. Twenty women (47.6%) had parity of 1-2. Thirty subjects (71.4%) were unbooked. Painless vaginal bleeding was the commonest mode of presentation in 30(73.8%) women while Type III was the commonest grade 15(35.7%). Nineteen subjects (45.2%) had no identifiable risk factors. Postpartum haemorrage was the most common complication (23.8%). There was no maternal death while the perinatal mortality was 13.5%. There was no significant association between booking status, type of placenta praevia, mode of delivery, blood loss at delivery, and the one minute APGAR score.

Conclusion: The prevalence of placenta praevia in Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital is comparable with other tertiary facilities in Nigeria. Upgrading comprehensive emergency obstetric services, improving neonatal services and a multidisciplinary approach to management of all cases will ensure good outcome for the mother and baby.