Placental abruption after insertion of catheter tip intrauterine pressure transducers: a report of four cases.

Background: Although intrauterine pressure transducers have proven efficacious in the management of certain laboring women, their use has been associated with small but definite risks to both mother and fetus. The introduction of catheter tip pressure transducers has facilitated the evaluation of intrauterine pressure, but there has been a paucity of data regarding complication rates with these newer devices.

Cases: We report four cases of placental abruption following insertion of catheter tip intrauterine pressure transducers. Two were associated with placental lacerations. None of these patients had definite risk factors for abruption, but they developed signs and symptoms typical of it after insertion of the catheters. Perinatal outcomes were good except in one neonate, who developed shock secondary to anemia. Three of the four cases occurred when 599 patients at our institution were monitored with catheter tip pressure transducers.

Conclusion: Although the risk of injury is small, neonatal morbidity can be severe, and an evaluation of risk versus benefit should be made prior to insertion of these devices.