Retained Placenta: Still a cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in a Nigerian Semi- urban Population
Abstract
Background: Retained placenta is associated with morbidity and mortality when left untreated.
This study was done to determine the occurrence of retained placenta in our setting as well as to
ascertain the possible risk factors, morbidities and mortality.
Method of study: This was a retrospective review of all cases of retained placenta over a three year
period (March 2005 to March 2007). There were 3542 deliveries, and of which 64 cases were of
retained placenta.
Results: The incidence of retained placenta was 1.8% of all deliveries with a higher incidence in
unbooked patients and a case fatality of 3.12%.The commonest complication was postpartum
haemorrhage in 51(79.68%) of cases with blood transfusion rate of 47%.
Conclusion: Complications associated with retained placenta could be reduced by adequate
utilisation of health care facilities manned by skilled attendants; availability of blood transfusion
services as well as effective and safe anaesthesia.
References
2. Andrew DW. The retained placenta. In: Progress in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ed John Studd, Published by Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 16:133-154.
3. Harrison KA. Childbearing Health and Social priorities. Survey of 22,774 consecutive Hospital births in Zaria, northern Nigeria. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1985; 92(suppl5):100-115.
4. Combs CA, Laros RK. Prolonged third stage of Labour. Morbidity and risk factors. Obstet Gynecol 1991; 77:863-867.
5. Owolabi AT, Dare FO, Fasubaa OB et al. Risk factors for retained placenta in South –western Nigeria. Singapore Med J 2008; 49 (7): 532-7.
6. Adelusi A, Soltan UH, Chowdhury N et al. Risk of retained placenta: multivariate approach. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1997; 76:414-8.
7. Romero R, Asu VC, Athanassiudis AP. Preterm delivery: a risk factor for retained placenta. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1990; 163 823-5.
8. Begum K. Analysis of 20,119 deliveries in Dhaka Medical college Hospital. Asia Oceania J Obstet Gyaecol 1999; 19:1-6.
9. Onwudiegwu U, Makinde ON. Retained placenta: a cause of reproductive morbidity in Nigeria. J Obstet Gynaecol 1999; 19:355-9.
10. Soltan MH, Khashoggi T. Retained placenta and associated risk factors. J Obstet Gynaecol 1997; 17:245-7.
11. Tandberg A, Albrechtsen S Iversen OE. Manual removal of placenta. Incidence and Clinical Significance. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 1999; 78: 33-6.
12. Chhabra S, Dhorey M. Retained placenta continue to be fatal but frequency can be reduced. J Obstet Gynecol 2004; 24:891-4.
13. Carroli G, Bergel E. Umbilical vein injection for the management of retained placenta (Cochrane review). In: The Cochrane library, issue 2, 2004. Chichester, uk: John Wiley and Sons Ltd
