Prenatal ultrasound diagnosis of vasa praevia and analysis of risk factors.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the role of ultrasound in prenatal diagnosis of vasa praevia (VP) and to asses the risk of VP associated with different causal factors.


METHODS
A retrospective study of the incidence of VP in a series of 12,063 deliveries between January 2000 and March 2005. We also studied the factors that predisposed for VP and the perinatal outcome of pregnancies.


RESULTS
The prevalence of VP in our centre during this period was 0.07% (9 cases). All cases were prenatally diagnosed. The mean gestational age at diagnosis was 26 weeks. Multivariate analysis revealed the following associated factors: IVF pregnancies, bilobate or succenturiate placenta, and second-trimester placenta praevia, with an odds ratio of 7.75, 22.11 and 22.86, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
In our series, the prenatal diagnosis of all cases of VP achieved during the second-trimester scan allowed us to avoid any prenatal death related to this condition.
Baulies
S
S
Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Human Reproduction, Institut Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona, Spain. sonbau@dexeus.com
Maiz
N
N
Muñoz
A
A
Torrents
M
M
Echevarría
M
M
Serra
B
B
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D010920:Placenta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010923:Placenta Previa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging