In Vitro Fertilization and Vasa Previa: A Report of Two Cases

Abstract

Vasa previa (VP) is a dangerous obstetric condition associated with perinatal mortality and morbidity. In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a risk factor for VP due to the high incidence of abnormal placentation. The diagnosis should be made prenatally, because fetal mortality can be extremely high. We report two cases to demonstrate the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound in the prenatal diagnosis of VP. A 40-year-old primiparous Caucasian woman with IVF pregnancy was diagnosed with VP at 29 weeks of gestation and was hospitalized for observation at 31 weeks of gestation. She delivered a male newborn weighing 2,380 g, with an Apgar score of 10 at 5 minutes, by elective cesarean section at 34 weeks + 4 days of gestation, without complications. A 36-year-old primiparous Caucasian woman with IVF pregnancy was diagnosed with placenta previa, bilobed placenta increta and VP. The cord insertion was velamentous. She was hospitalized for observation at 26 weeks of gestation. She delivered a female newborn weighing 2,140 g, with an Apgar score of 9 at 5 minutes, by emergency cesarean section at 33 weeks + 4 days of gestation due to vaginal bleeding. The prenatal diagnosis of VP was associated with a favorable outcome in the two cases, supporting previous observations that IVF is a risk factor for VP and that all IVF pregnancies should be screened by transvaginal ultrasound.

Resumo

Vasa previa (VP) é uma condição obstétrica perigosa associada a mortalidade e morbidade perinatais. Fertilização in vitro (FIV) é um fator de risco para VP devido à alta incidência de placentação anormal. O diagnóstico deve ser realizado no período pré-natal, pois a possibilidade de mortalidade fetal é extremamente elevada. Relatamos dois casos para demonstrar a acurácia da ultrassonografia transvaginal no diagnóstico pré-natal de VP. Mulher caucasiana, primigesta, de 40 anos, submetida a FIV, foi diagnosticada com VP na 29ª semana de gestação e hospitalizada para observação na 31ª semana de gestação. A paciente foi submetida à cesariana eletiva com 34 semanas e 4 dias, sem complicações, com recém-nascido do sexo masculino, pesando 2.380 g, e com Apgar de 10 no 5° minuto. Mulher caucasiana, primigesta, de 36 anos, subetida a FIV, foi diagnosticada com placenta prévia, placenta bilobada, acretismo placentário e VP. Cordão umbilical com inserção velamentosa. A paciente foi hospitalizada para observação na 26ª semana de gestação. Foi submetida à cesariana de emergência com 33 semanas e 4 dias por sangramento vaginal. O recém nascido do sexo feminino pesou 2.140 g, com Apgar de 9 no 5°minuto. O diagnóstico de VP no período pré-natal associou-se a um desfecho favorável nos dois casos, corroborando observações anteriores de que a FIV é um fator de risco para VP e de que todas as gestações por FIV deveriam ser avaliadas por ultrassonografia transvaginal.

Keywords

vasa previa - in vitro fertilization - placenta previa

Palavras-chave

vasa previa - fertilização in vitro - placenta prévia

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