Srividya Sreenivasan

Abstract

Introduction: Examination of the placenta after the third stage of labour, is something oft mentioned in textbooks but often neglected in the clinical setting. Placental examination can give the clinician important insights as to events and exposures the fetus has been subjected to in –utero. Aims & Objectives: To assess the incidence of anomalies observed in term placentae and umbilical cords of parturients in a teaching hospital. Design: We collected term placentae from parturients in the labour ward, and subjected them to a thorough gross examination with a view to pick up anomalies. We subjected the umbilical cord to histologic examination in cases where an anomaly in the cord was detected on gross examination. Participants: Placentae of 92 term parturients. Setting: Anatomy department of a Medical College in Western Uttar Pradesh, India. Main Outcome Measure: To report the incidence of placental and cord anomalies. Results: We found 1 succenturiate lobe of placenta, one dilated umbilical vein, one case of single umbilical artery and 2 velamentous insertions of the umbilical cord (both as one of the two in a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy). Conclusion: Anomalies of the placenta and umbilical cord were observed in 5.43% of parturients. Our study emphasises the importance of careful observation of the umbilical cord and placenta after delivery. Keywords: Succenturiate lobe, Dilated umbilical vein, Single umbilical artery, Velamentous insertion.

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