Evaluation of Retained Placenta: A Study in a District Hospital
Authors: S Alam, , H Chowdhury, A. , A Khan, S. , S Saha, 
Published: October 2022

Introduction: The placenta is an organ that is attached to the uterine wall and connects the fetus with the mother through the umbilical cord. The placenta is said to be retained when it is not expelled out even half an hour after the birth of the baby. The study aimed to evaluate the retention of the placenta. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Faridpur Medical College Hospital, Faridpur from June 2016 to November 2016. The sample was taken purposively and the sample size was 110. Patients were diagnosed with a case of 'retained placenta' through proper history, and clinical examination. Written informed consent was taken from every patient or their relatives. The information was collected in a preformed data collection sheet. Observation and results of the study and statistical analysis were presented in tables. Data were analyzed by using the computer-based program Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software for windows. Result: Out of 110 study subjects about 58.18% were found in the age group of 21-30 years and 20% were found in the age group of 20 years. The age of the patients ranges from 18 to 40 years. Among 110 study subjects, 64.55% were from lower socioeconomic status, 27.27% were from middle socioeconomic status and only 8.18% belonged to affluent socioeconomic status. The majority (74.54%) of cases were delivered at home and 25.46% of cases were delivered at different levels of hospitals (among them 1.82% of cases occurred in the institute where the study was done). Among them 20% were para- 1, 54.54% were para-2-4 and 25.46% of respondents were para ≥ 5. The majority (60%) of study subjects were admitted between 3 to 8 hours after developing retained placenta, followed by 18.19% who came within 2 hours. Regarding the clinical presentation, 69.09% of study subjects presented with anemia of varying degrees, 24.53% presented with shock, 5.45% presented with sepsis, and only 0.93% (one patient) presented with acute renal failure. Concerning predisposing factors of retained placenta, 25.46% of study subjects were grand multipara, 11.82% had H/O MR or D & C, 10.90% with prolonged labor, 10.90% respondents had IUD, 10% with past H/O retained placenta, 8.20% had preterm labor, 2.72% had H/O LUCS/ other uterine surgery and 20% were without any predisposing factors. Among the respondents, 27.27% of study subjects presented with genital tract trauma, 5.45% with sepsis, 5.45% with acute renal failure, 0.91% with DIC, 0.91% with uterine prolapse 64.55% with no associated conditions/complications. Among the total study population, 58.18% of retained placenta cases required manual removal under G/A, and 41.82% were managed by manual removal of the placenta under deep sedation. Out of 110 respondents, 21.82% of cases of retained placenta did not require any blood transfusion, 58.18% received 1-2 units and 20% received 3 or more units of blood transfusion. During management, 13.63% of study subjects developed uterine atony, 0.91% developed uterine inversion, 2.73% were complicated by uterine perforation, 0.91% were complicated by anesthetic hazard; 81.82% had no complication during management. Out of 110, 18.18% of study subjects experienced various complications. Among them 9.10% were managed by intrauterine balloon tamponade,2.73% required hysterectomy, and 6.37% were managed by other measures. 70% of respondents stayed in the hospital for 1-3 days, 26.36% for 4 to 7 days, and 3.64% stayed more than 7 days before discharge. Regarding the outcome of retained placenta among study subjects, 80.91% improved and discharged, 10% had severe anemia and required subsequent blood transfusion, 6.36% developed an infection, 0.91% developed acute renal failure and 2 patients died (one due to DIC and another patient due to irreversible shock). Conclusion: The retained placenta is an obstetric emergency. Rapid recognition and treatments are essential because heavy blood loss with coagulation problems remains the lethal factor in this disease. Rapid control of hemorrhage should be the first initiative. Active management of the third stage of labor lowers the danger by a significant percentage.