A STUDY ON PLACENTAL AND UMBILICAL CORD MORPHOLOGY IN MOTHERS WITH PREECLAMPSIA AND ITS CORRELATION WITH FOETAL OUTCOME AT BIRTH IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Introduction: The placenta is a distinctive characteristic of higher mammals which is attached to the uterus and is connected to the foetus through the umbilical cord.The placenta is an organ of vital importance for the continuation of a pregnancy and foetal nutrition.In humans, after the birth of the infant,placenta is often disposed soon after parturition without adequate examination. It has been seen that many disorders of the pregnancy are associated with gross anatomical,physiological,and pathological changes in the placenta.Hypertension is one of the common complications met with in pregnancy and contributes significantly to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality.Of the few studies that have explored the subject, it has been seen that morphologically, the placentae of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are smaller, with lesser weight, diameter, and thickness as compared to placentae of normal women. Even fewer studies have been done which have correlated these altered placental findings with foetal and neonatal outcomes. Objective: Here we did a study on placental and umbilical cord morphology in mothers with pre-eclampsia and its correlation with foetal outcome at birth in a tertiary care hospital. Material And Methods: The study population consisted of women of gestational age >34 weeks with diagnosed pregnancy induced hypertension or pre-eclampsia who were admitted to the labour room of the study institution for delivery. Conclusion: Mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy tend to have a high incidence of abnormal placental and umbilical cord morphology at delivery such as lower placental weight,diameter,thickness,lower umbilical cord weight,diameter,and length.