Abstract

CORTES, Hernán  and  MUNOZ, Henry. The clinical usefulness of a histopathological study of the placenta at San Vicente de Paul Teaching Hospital. Rev Colomb Obstet Ginecol [online]. 2007, vol.58, n.1, pp.60-64. ISSN 0034-7434.

Objective: characterising placental findings regarding maternal or fetal pathology and ascertaining the percentage of pathological findings in the samples sent for study. Materials and methods: this was a descriptive-retrospective study carried out at San Vicente de Paul teaching hospital. All placentas submitted to histological study during the last three years (2003-2005) were included. All the patients’ clinical histories were checked to establish histological diagnosis and the reason why placentas were sent for study (maternal or foetal complication). Results: 60 placentas were checked; 19 (31.6%) were reported as being normal. The most prevalent characteristics were ischemic changes and amnionitis. Ischemic changes were most frequently found in cases of preeclampsia and intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR). Amnionitis was found in cases of premature rupture of membranes (PRM), syphilis and premature labour. No findings were reported regarding foetal malformations. Conclusions: just 1% of the placentas were sent for pathology, 68% of them presenting significant findings compared to other series where important changes were reported in 92% of them. Sending placentas having macroscopic abnormalities and those having maternal and foetal indications to pathology must be encouraged to increase ascertaining relevant findings.

Keywords : placenta; pathology; chorangiosis; ischemia.

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