Management of women with major placenta praevia without haemorrhage: A questionnaire-based survey of Irish obstetricians

Our aim was to determine individual management of women with major placenta praevia without antepartum haemorrhage (APH) using a questionnaire-based study. Placenta praevia complicates one in 200 pregnancies. It is associated with maternal mortality of 0.03%. The maternal, fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality are due to the complications of haemorrhage and prematurity. APH due to placenta praevia is unpredictable and this may explain the traditional inpatient approach to management. This approach may be justified in those with bleeding, it is questionable in those who have not bled. A total of 121 obstetricians replied (63%), to 192 questionnaires sent out. Of these, 48 obstetricians would admit all women with major placenta praevia without APH, while 69 would manage them on an outpatient basis. When asked whether or not they agreed with outpatient management, 21 agreed strongly, 51 tended to agree, 23 tended to disagree and 13 disagreed strongly. Over half of the obstetricians adopt an outpatient management approach.