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Latest SMFM Guidelines: Third Trimester Bleeding Between 34w0d and 36w6d Gestation

SUMMARY:

SMFM provides guidance on the management of patients who present with bleeding in the late preterm period (34w0d to 36w6d).  The following are the key highlights and recommendations:

Placenta Previa

  • Stable and no other obstetric complications: Deliver between 36w0d to 37w6d (Grade1B)
  • Mild late preterm bleeding with 1 or more prior bleeding episodes that occurred <34 weeks of gestation: Consider delivery due to risk of recurrent bleeding
  • Mild bleeding 34 to 35 weeks with resolution by time of evaluation: Management is less clear
  • Do not perform routine cervical length screening to determine who will bleed in late preterm period as data in limited on appropriate management (Grade 2C)

Placenta Accreta

  • Definition: Abnormal trophoblast infiltration beyond the fibrinoid Nitabuch layer
    • Placenta increta: Placenta invades myometrium
    • Placenta percreta: Placenta invades beyond the myometrium
  • Incidence: <1% (in absence of placenta previa unless > 5 prior cesareans
  • Risk factors
    • Placenta previa and previous cesarean (most common)
    • Uterine surgery | Advanced maternal age | Smoking | Multiparity
  • Stable: Deliver between 34 to 37 weeks (Grade 1C)
    • If patient is stable, it is reasonable to briefly delay delivery to coordinate requisite multidisciplinary team
  • ACOG/SMFM recommendations (2019)
    • Delivery for suspected accreta, increta or percreta at 34w0d to 35w6d

Vasa Previa

  • Definition: Placental implantation that overlies or abuts the internal cervical os
  • Presentation: Painless bleeding
  • Incidence
    • Seen in 1 to 4% of second trimester ultrasound exams
    • 10 to 20% of previas diagnosed at 20 weeks gestation will remain a previa in the late 3rd trimester
  • Stable: Deliver between 34 to 37 weeks (Grade 1C)

Placental Abruption

  • Definition: Placental separation, either partial or complete, prior to delivery
  • Incidence: 0.5 to 1%
  • Classic presentation
    • Abdominal pain and bleeding
    • Nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing (approximately 60%)
  • Risk factors: Hypertension | Smoking | PPROM | Cocaine abuse | Uterine myomas, and previous abruption
  • No clinical trials regarding ideal timing for delivery
    • Stable with high clinical index of suspicion: Delivery in late preterm or early term (expert opinion)
    • Diagnosis unclear, minimal bleeding, both mother and fetus stable: Delivery may be delayed with close surveillance and ongoing fetal testing
    • Active bleeding: Delivery as with any other active hemorrhage case

KEY POINTS:

Delivery Considerations

  • If patient actively bleeding, delivery is indicated if the following are present
    • Significant vaginal bleeding
    • Abnormal laboratory results including such as acute anemia or coagulopathy
    • Abnormal fetal heart tracing
    • Maternal status unstable
  • If actively hemorrhaging, do not delay delivery for purpose of administering antenatal corticosteroids (Grade 1B)
  • Do not perform fetal lung maturity testing in late preterm period to guide management if there is an indication for delivery (Grade 1B)
  • Administer antenatal corticosteroids if (Grade 1A)
    • Delivery expected within 7 days
    • Gestational age is between 34w0d to 36w6d
    • Antenatal corticosteroids have not previously been administered
  • Cesarean section for placenta previa, vasa previa or accreta
    • For other clinical scenarios, vaginal delivery may be appropriate if
      • No contraindication for vaginal delivery
      • Fetal status is stable
    • Small amount of late preterm bleeding that has resolved by the time the patient presents may be treated expectantly if the following conditions met (no evidence-based recommendations currently available)
      • Both mother and fetus stable
      • Absence of active bleeding or contractions
      • Patient lives close to the hospital

Ultrasound Evaluation

  • Perform ultrasound exam to evaluate placental location prior to digital vaginal exam
    • Placental previa: Use transvaginal ultrasound
    • Vasa previa: Pulsed-wave Doppler may help identify a fetal arterial vessel (with FH rate) or fetal vessels with venous flow
  • Placenta accreta: Ultrasound can be used, but sensitivity (89 to 92%) and specificity (92 to 97%) less than that of placenta previa and vasa previa
  • Placental abruption: Use clinical suspicion/judgement to determine management as ultrasound can miss this diagnosis in 20 to 50% of the cases
  • MRI in women who are actively bleeding is not recommended

Laboratory Evaluation

  • Depends on clinical status and may include
    • CBC and platelets
    • Type and cross
    • Coag studies: PT/PPT/INR/fibrinogen
    • If transfusion likely: BUN, Cr and lytes
  • Wall clot test
    • Place blood in plain (red top) tube
    • Normal expectation is clot within 6 min
  • Rh negative patient
    • Assess maternal-fetal hemorrhage
      • Quantitative rosette test
      • Qualitative Kleihauer-Betke stain
      • Flow cytometry
    • Administer standard Rh immunoglobulin dose of 300 μg
      • Increase as needed based on quantitative testing

Initial Stabilization for Delivery

  • 2 large-bore intravenous lines
  • Obtain results from lab testing above, especially blood type
    • O-neg blood may need to be identified and prepared in the interim
  • Crossmatch for an initial 2 to 4 U of blood
  • Utilize hemorrhage protocol in units where available
  • Fetal heart monitoring is indicated

Evidence Grading System

  • 1A: Strong recommendation | High-quality evidence
  • 1B: Strong recommendation | Moderate-quality evidence
  • 2C: Weak recommendation | Low-quality evidence

Learn More – Primary Sources:

Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) Consult Series #44: management of bleeding in the late preterm period

ACOG SMFM Committee Opinion 831: Medically Indicated Late-Preterm and Early-Term Deliveries