To evaluate the role of placental location in predicting the pregnancy outcome.

It was a prospective observational study conducted between September 2011 and March 2013 at a tertiary care hospital. Placental location, as determined by midtrimester ultrasound in 620 antenatal women, was divided into five groups—anterior, posterior, fundal, lateral and low lying placenta-depending on where > 75% of the placental mass was located. Outcome variables, such as antenatal complications, intrapartum events and neonatal outcome in these women were studied.

Out of 620 women, 274 (44.1%) had anterior, 169 (27.2%) had posterior, 98 (15.8%) had fundal, 61 (9.8%) had lateral placentae and 18 (2.9%) had placenta previa as per the last scan done at 28 weeks. Pre-eclampsia (27.9%) and antepartum hemorrhage (19.7%) were more common in lateral placenta whereas term prelabor rupture of membranes (11.2%) was more common in fundal placenta and these findings were statistically significant. The incidence of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) was also found to be higher in patients with lateral (16.4%) and posteriorly (16%) implanted placenta although there was no statistically significant association.

Among the various placental sites of implantation, lateral location of the placenta is associated with adverse antenatal outcomes like pre-eclampsia, antepartum hemorrhage and IUGR.

Faizi S, Pai MV. Role of Midtrimester Localization of the Placenta in predicting Pregnancy Outcome. Int J Infertil Fetal Med 2014;5(3):87-91.