The effect of placenta previa on blood loss in second-trimester pregnancy termination

Objective: To determine whether placenta previa increases bleeding during second-trimester pregnancy termination. Methods: The records of 131 consecutive women undergoing elective pregnancy termination at 13-24 weeks' gestation were reviewed and divided into those with and without placenta previa based on an ultrasound examination before the procedure. These two groups were then compared for differences in maternal characteristics, estimated blood loss, operative time, infection, and hospital admission. Results: Twenty-three of 131 women (17.6%) had placenta previa. Sixty-seven percent of the previa patients smoked, venus 37% in the control group, a statistically significant difference