Reoccurrence of retained placenta at a subsequent delivery: an observational study

Objective: To test the generalizability of previously reported increased risk of reoccurrence of retained placenta in yet another setting.Methods: In this observational retrospective study we longitudinally followed women who had a vaginal delivery complicated by a partial or complete retained placenta at Edith Wolfson Medical Center between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2012. The study group included parturient women who had a partial or complete retained placenta after a vaginal delivery (n=90). The control group included parturient women who did not have a partial or complete retained placenta after a vaginal delivery from the same time period using the same inclusion criteria (n=90).Results: Retained partial or complete placenta at a previous delivery was found to be an independent risk factor for retained partial or complete placenta in a subsequent delivery (adjusted OR 9.8, 95%CI 1.2 to 80.6, p=0.032) and for retained partial or complete placenta and/or postpartum hemorrhage in a subsequent delivery (adjusted OR 14.1, 95% CI 1.7 to 111.9, p=0.012), after controlling for gestational age and induction of labor at previous delivery.Conclusion: Retained partial or complete placenta at an index delivery increases the risk of reoccurrence of retained partial or complete placenta in a subsequent delivery.