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Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology... Jul 2023To summarize the current evidence and to make recommendations for diagnosis and classification of vasa previa and for management of women with this diagnosis.
OBJECTIVE
To summarize the current evidence and to make recommendations for diagnosis and classification of vasa previa and for management of women with this diagnosis.
TARGET POPULATION
Pregnant women with vasa previa or low-lying fetal vessels.
OPTIONS
To manage vasa previa in hospital or at home, and to perform a cesarean delivery preterm or at term, or to allow a trial of labour when a diagnosis of vasa previa or low-lying fetal vessels is suspected or confirmed.
OUTCOMES
Prolonged hospitalization, preterm birth, rate of cesarean delivery, and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
BENEFITS, HARMS, AND COSTS
Women with vasa previa or low-lying fetal vessels are at an increased risk of maternal and fetal or postnatal adverse outcomes. These outcomes include a potentially incorrect diagnosis, need for hospitalization, unnecessary restriction of activities, an early delivery, and an unnecessary cesarean delivery. Optimization of diagnostic and management protocols can improve maternal and fetal or postnatal outcomes.
EVIDENCE
Medline, Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to March 2022, using medical subject headings (MeSH) and keywords related to pregnancy, vasa previa, low-lying fetal vessels, antepartum hemorrhage, short cervix, preterm labour, and cesarean delivery. This document presents an abstraction of the evidence rather than a methodological review.
VALIDATION METHODS
The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. See online Appendix A (Tables A1 for definitions and A2 for interpretations of strong and weak recommendations).
INTENDED AUDIENCE
Obstetric care providers, including obstetricians, family physicians, nurses, midwives, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and radiologists.
TWEETABLE ABSTRACT
Unprotected fetal vessels in placental membranes and cord that are close to the cervix, including vasa previa, need careful characterization by sonographic examination and evidence-based management to reduce risks to the baby and the mother during pregnancy and delivery.
SUMMARY STATEMENTS
RECOMMENDATIONS.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Infant, Newborn; Humans; Vasa Previa; Placenta; Premature Birth; Prenatal Care; Fetus
PubMed: 37209787
DOI: 10.1016/j.jogc.2023.05.009 -
International Journal of Gynaecology... Nov 2023To examine the association between assisted reproductive technology (ART) and abnormal placentation.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the association between assisted reproductive technology (ART) and abnormal placentation.
METHODS
This is a retrospective cohort study querying the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Nationwide Inpatient Sample. The study population included 14, 970, 064 deliveries for national estimates from January 2012 to September 2015. The exposure was 48, 240 pregnancies after ART. The main outcome measure encompassed three abnormal placentation pathologies (placenta previa [PP], placenta accreta spectrum [PAS], and vasa previa [VP]). Propensity score matching was performed to assess the exposure-outcome association.
RESULTS
Pregnancy after ART was more likely to have a diagnosis of PAS (2.8 vs 1.0 per 1000 deliveries; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.06 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.44-2.93]), PP (24.5 vs 8.6 per 1000; aOR, 2.98 [95% CI, 2.64-3.35]), and VP (2.3 vs <0.3 per 1000; aOR, 11.3 [95% CI, 5.86-21.8]) compared with pregnancy without ART. Similarly, pregnancy after ART was associated with an increased likelihood of having multiple types of abnormal placentation, including VP with PP (aOR, 15.4 [95% CI, 6.15-38.4]) and PAS with PP (aOR, 2.80 [95% CI, 1.32-5.92]) compared with non-ART pregnancy.
CONCLUSIONS
This national-level analysis suggests that pregnancy after ART is associated with a significantly increased risk of abnormal placentation, including PAS, PP, and VP.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Fertilization; Placenta Accreta; Placenta Previa; Placentation; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Vasa Previa
PubMed: 37183534
DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14850 -
Cureus Mar 2023Vaginal bleeding in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy is usually due to placental causes, namely placental abruption and placenta previa. Other causes include...
Vaginal bleeding in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy is usually due to placental causes, namely placental abruption and placenta previa. Other causes include uterine rupture, vasa previa, and hematologic disorders. However, benign or malignant lesions of the vagina and the cervix may also cause vaginal bleeding or spotting. Although cervical cancer in pregnancy is rare, about 8% of pregnant women have an abnormal Pap smear and 3% of the total cervical cancers are diagnosed during pregnancy. We report a case of a 20-week pregnant woman who presented with vaginal bleeding; a visual inspection revealed a large exophytic lesion of the cervix. The Pap smear demonstrated a low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) related to human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The differential diagnosis based on the findings of the colposcopy included invasive cervical carcinoma, warty lesions, and perishable lesion. A cesarean section and the removal of the cervical tumor were scheduled and carried out as planned at 37 weeks of gestation. The histologic examination showed extensive lesions of low-grade squamous intraepithelial cervical neoplasia (LSIL/CIN1). Despite the fact that exophytic tumors of the cervix are extremely rare, in women presenting with vaginal bleeding or spotting during the second or third trimester of pregnancy, the ultrasound scan must be followed by a visual inspection of the vagina and the cervix.
PubMed: 37020479
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.35747 -
Biomedicines Jan 2023Vasa previa carries a high risk of severe fetal morbidity and mortality due to fetal hemorrhage caused by damage to unprotected fetal cord vessels upon membrane rupture.... (Review)
Review
Vasa previa carries a high risk of severe fetal morbidity and mortality due to fetal hemorrhage caused by damage to unprotected fetal cord vessels upon membrane rupture. Vasa previa is generally classified into types I and II. However, some cases are difficult to classify, and some studies have proposed a type III classification. This study aimed to review the current evidence on type III vasa previa. A systematic literature search was conducted, and 11 articles (2011-2022) were included. A systematic review showed that type III vasa previa accounts for 5.7% of vasa previa cases. Thirteen women with type III vasa previa were examined at a patient-level analysis. The median age was 35 (interquartile range [IQR] 31.5-38) years, and approximately 45% were assisted reproductive technology (ART) pregnancies. The median gestational week of delivery was 36 (IQR 34-37) weeks; the antenatal detection rate was 84.6%, and no cases reported neonatal death. The characteristics and obstetric outcomes (rate of ART, antenatal diagnosis, emergent cesarean delivery, gestational age at delivery, and neonatal mortality) were compared between types I and III vasa previa, and all outcomes of interest were similar. The current evidence on type III vasa previa is scanty, and further studies are warranted.
PubMed: 36672661
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010152 -
Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology :... Jun 2023
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Vasa Previa; Fetoscopy; Laser Therapy; Ultrasonography, Prenatal
PubMed: 36609872
DOI: 10.1002/uog.26153 -
Biomedicines Dec 2022Vasa previa is a rare fetal life-threatening obstetric disease classified into types I and II. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and obstetric outcomes of... (Review)
Review
Vasa previa is a rare fetal life-threatening obstetric disease classified into types I and II. This study aimed to examine the characteristics and obstetric outcomes of type II vasa previa. A systematic review was performed, and 20 studies (1998-2022) were identified. The results from six studies showed that type II vasa previa accounted for 21.3% of vasa previa cases. The characteristics and obstetric outcomes (rate of assisted reproductive technology (ART), antenatal diagnosis, emergent cesarean delivery, maternal transfusion, gestational age at delivery, and neonatal mortality) were compared between type I and II vasa previa, and all outcomes of interest were similar. The association between ART and abnormal placenta (bilobed placenta or succenturiate lobe) was examined in three studies, and the results were as follows: () increased rate of succenturiate lobes (ART versus non-ART pregnancy; OR (odds ratio) 6.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.45-19.78); () similar rate of abnormal placenta (cleavage-stage versus blastocyst embryo transfer); () increased rate of abnormal placenta (frozen versus fresh embryo transfer; OR 2.97, 95%CI 1.10-7.96). Although the outcomes of type II vasa previa appear to be similar to those of type I vasa previa, the current evidence is insufficient for a robust conclusion.
PubMed: 36552018
DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123263 -
Medicine Dec 2022To investigate the relationship between abnormal umbilical cord insertion and birthweight discordance in monochorionic diamnionic (MCDA) twins. A total of 137 pairs of...
To investigate the relationship between abnormal umbilical cord insertion and birthweight discordance in monochorionic diamnionic (MCDA) twins. A total of 137 pairs of MCDAs were retrospectively analyzed who delivered and survived in Hangzhou Women's Hospital from January 2016 to December 2021. According to different insertion methods, they were divided into normal cord insertion group (n = 57), marginal cord insertion (MCI) group (n = 34) and velamentous cord insertion (VCI) group (n = 46). The correlation was analyzed between different insertion methods of umbilical cord and the discordant birth weight of MCDAs. The gestational age of delivery with velamentous cord insertion was significantly earlier than those with normal and marginal insertion (P < .05). There were significant differences in birthweight between large fetus (F1) and small fetus (F2) with different umbilical insertion methods (P < .05). The birthweight of F1 and F2 in normal insertion group was significantly higher than those in MCI and VCI group (P < .05). Logistic regression analysis showed that VCI was significantly associated with birth weight in F1/F2, birthweight discordance ≥ 20%, and birthweight discordance ≥ 25%, however MCI and VCI were not an independent factor for discordance in birthweight of MCDAs (P > .05). Umbilical cord insertion method can lead to inconsistency in birthweight of MCDA twins, however they were not an independent factor for discordance in birthweight.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Birth Weight; Retrospective Studies; Placenta; Umbilical Cord; Gestational Age; Vasa Previa; Twins, Monozygotic; Pregnancy, Twin
PubMed: 36550827
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000032316 -
PloS One 2022The objective of this exploratory modelling study was to estimate the effects of second-trimester, ultrasound-based antenatal detection strategies for vasa praevia (VP)...
The impact of ultrasound-based antenatal screening strategies to detect vasa praevia in the United Kingdom: An exploratory study using decision analytic modelling methods.
The objective of this exploratory modelling study was to estimate the effects of second-trimester, ultrasound-based antenatal detection strategies for vasa praevia (VP) in a hypothetical cohort of pregnant women. For this, a decision-analytic tree model was developed covering four discrete detection pathways/strategies: no screening; screening targeted at women undergoing in-vitro fertilisation (IVF); screening targeted at women with low-lying placentas (LLP); screening targeted at women with velamentous cord insertion (VCI) or a bilobed or succenturiate (BL/S) placenta. Main outcome measures were the number of referrals to transvaginal sonography (TVS), diagnosed and undiagnosed cases of VP, overdetected cases of VCI, and VP-associated perinatal mortality. The greatest number of referrals to TVS occurred in the LLP-based (2,083) and VCI-based screening (1,319) pathways. These two pathways also led to the highest proportions of pregnancies diagnosed with VP (VCI-based screening: 552 [78.9% of all pregnancies]; LLP-based: 371 [53.5%]) and the lowest proportions of VP leading to perinatal death (VCI-based screening: 100 [14.2%]; LLP-based: 196 [28.0%]). In contrast, the IVF-based pathway resulted in 66 TVS referrals, 50 VP diagnoses (7.1% of all VP pregnancies), and 368 (52.6%) VP-associated perinatal deaths which was comparable to the no screening pathway (380 [54.3%]). The VCI-based pathway resulted in the greatest detection of VCI (14,238 [99.1%]), followed by the IVF-based pathway (443 [3.1%]); no VCI detection occurred in the LLP-based or no screening pathways. In conclusion, the model results suggest that a targeted LLP-based approach could detect a substantial proportion of VP cases, while avoiding VCI overdetection and requiring minimal changes to current clinical practice. High-quality data is required to explore the clinical and cost-effectiveness of this and other detection strategies further. This is necessary to provide a robust basis for future discussion about routine screening for VP.
Topics: Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Vasa Previa; Umbilical Cord; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Placenta; Prenatal Diagnosis
PubMed: 36538562
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0279229 -
American Journal of Obstetrics &... Feb 2023Velamentous cord insertion may be identified prenatally, but the clinical implications of this diagnosis remain controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
OBJECTIVE
Velamentous cord insertion may be identified prenatally, but the clinical implications of this diagnosis remain controversial. This meta-analysis aimed to quantitatively summarize current data on the association of velamentous cord insertion and adverse perinatal outcomes.
DATA SOURCES
A systematic search was performed in MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library from inception until May 22, 2022 to identify eligible studies.
STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Observational studies including singleton pregnancies with velamentous cord insertion, either prenatally or postnatally identified, and comparing them with those with central/eccentric cord insertion were considered eligible.
METHODS
The quality of the studies was assessed with the Newcastle-Ottawa scale and the risk of bias with the Quality In Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. The main outcome was small-for-gestational-age neonates. Heterogeneity of the studies was evaluated using a Q test and an I index. Analyses were performed using a random-effects model, with outcome data reported as relative risk or mean difference with 95% confidence interval.
RESULTS
In total, 9 cohort and 2 case-control studies, of which 4 had prenatal and 7 had postnatal velamentous cord insertion diagnosis, were included. The overall prevalence of velamentous cord insertion was estimated to be 1.4% among singleton pregnancies. Compared with the central/eccentric cord insertion control group, pregnancies with velamentous cord insertion were at higher risk of several adverse perinatal outcomes, namely small-for-gestational-age neonates (relative risk, 1.93; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-2.41), preeclampsia (relative risk, 1.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-3.39), pregnancy-induced hypertension (relative risk, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.46-1.70), stillbirth (relative risk, 4.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.92-8.87), placental abruption (relative risk, 2.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.72-5.03), preterm delivery (relative risk, 2.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.73-2.65), emergency cesarean delivery (relative risk, 2.03; 95% confidence interval, 1.22-3.38), 1-minute Apgar score <7 (relative risk, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.14-2.05), 5-minute Apgar score <7 (relative risk, 1.97; 95% confidence interval, 1.43-2.71), and neonatal intensive care unit admission (relative risk, 1.63; 95% confidence interval, 1.32-2.02). In a subgroup analysis, prenatally diagnosed velamentous cord insertion was associated with small-for-gestational-age neonates (relative risk, 1.66; 95% confidence interval, 1.19-2.32), stillbirth (relative risk, 4.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.42-16.08), and preterm delivery (relative risk, 2.69; 95% confidence interval, 2.01-3.60). In a sensitivity analysis of studies excluding cases with vasa previa, velamentous cord insertion was associated with an increased risk of small-for-gestational-age neonates (relative risk, 2.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.73-4.17), pregnancy-induced hypertension (relative risk, 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-3.01), and stillbirth (relative risk, 9.42; 95% confidence interval, 3.19-27.76), but not preterm delivery (relative risk, 1.92; 95% confidence interval, 0.82-4.54).
CONCLUSION
Velamentous cord insertion is associated with several adverse perinatal outcomes, including stillbirth, and these associations persist when only prenatally diagnosed cases are considered and when vasa previa cases are excluded. According to these findings, the exact pathophysiology should be further investigated and an effective prenatal monitoring plan should be developed.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Pregnancy; Female; Humans; Vasa Previa; Pregnancy Outcome; Stillbirth; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced; Placenta; Premature Birth; Fetal Growth Retardation
PubMed: 36379439
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajogmf.2022.100812 -
European Journal of Obstetrics,... Dec 2022
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Vasa Previa; Rubber; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Feedback; Ultrasonography, Prenatal; Postpartum Period
PubMed: 36371360
DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2022.11.004