Predicting factors for emergency peripartum hysterectomy in women with placenta previa.

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to identify predictive factors for peripartum hysterectomy in women with placenta previa.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all singleton pregnancies with a diagnosis of placenta previa, with the distance between the lower placenta edge and the internal cervical os is ≤2 cm, during the period June 2006-May 2010. Antepartum characteristics of women who did and did not undergo peripartum hysterectomy were compared: they include demographical data, obstetrics history, clinical course of the index pregnancy and sonographic findings.

RESULTS: Two-hundred and forty-seven women were selected. peripartum hysterectomy was required in 12 cases (4.9%). A statistically significant increased risk emerged for a history of cesarean section (p < 0.001), major placenta previa (p < 0.001), sonographic suspect of placenta accreta (p < 0.001) and gestational age at delivery <34 weeks' gestation (p < 0.001). These four variables were entered into an unconditioned logistic regression model. The resulting adjusted ORs were 23.1 (95% CI 2.3-235.3, p = 0.008), 14.6 (95% CI 0.6-346.5, p = 0.097), 42.4 (95% CI 5.1-354.5, p = 0.001) and 9.3 (95% CI 1.1-76.9, p = 0.037), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that placenta previa is a condition at substantial risk of peripartum hysterectomy. A history of cesarean section, the sonographic suspect of placenta accreta and gestational age at delivery were found to be independently associated with this risk. Antepartum ultrasonography in particular plays a crucial role in predicting hysterectomy in these cases.