placenta praevia (comparison with abruptio placentae)
Last reviewed 04/2021
These comparisons are generalisations for each condition. Obviously specific cases may vary in terms of the clinical features that occur.
- pain
- abruption - constant
- placenta praevia - painless
- obstetric shock
- abruption - the actual amount of bleeding may be far in excess of vaginal loss
- placenta praevia - obsetric shock in proportion to amount of vaginal loss
- uterus
- abruption - uterus is tender and tense
- placenta praevia - uterus is non-tender
- fetus
- abruption - normal presentation and lie
- placenta praevia - may have abnormal presentation and/ or lie
- fetal heart
- abruption - fetal heart distressed/absent
- placenta praevia - in general, fetal heart normal
- associated problems:
- abruption - may be a complication of pre-eclampsia, may cause disseminated intravascular coagulation
- placenta praevia - small antepartum haemorrhage may occur before larger bleed