Premium
Ultrasound screening and management of vasa previa in Japan
Author(s) -
Furuya Natsumi,
Sasaki Takamichi,
Homma Chika,
Hasegawa Junichi,
Suzuki Nao
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/jog.14254
Subject(s) - medicine , perinatal mortality , obstetrics , incidence (geometry) , placenta previa , gestation , gestational age , pregnancy , pediatrics , emergency medicine , fetus , genetics , physics , placenta , optics , biology
Aim This study aimed to clarify ultrasound screening and management for vasa previa (VP) in perinatal centers and primary facilities in Japan. Methods A questionnaire survey about antepartum ultrasound screening and management for VP was delivered in 2018. Questions were sent by email or post to perinatal centers and randomly selected primary hospitals or clinics throughout Japan. Results Seventy‐seven perinatal centers and 300 primary facilities answered. VP was screened in 85.7% of perinatal centers and 81.3% of primary facilities. The reported incidence of VP was 0.05% (86/158 323) and 0.05% (28/54 791) in perinatal centers and primary facilities, respectively. When patients were diagnosed with VP, 88.7% of primary facilities referred the patient to a tertiary hospital. Routine hospitalization (100%) and steroid administration (46%) were frequently performed in perinatal centers. The median gestational age at planned cesarean section was significantly earlier in perinatal centers (34 weeks) than in primary facilities (37 weeks). Of the 31 reported cases of VP, 30 were reported as intact survival, but 1 case required an emergency cesarean section at 38 weeks of gestation without an antenatal diagnosis, resulting in neonatal death. Conclusion More than 80% of obstetric facilities both perinatal centers and clinics in Japan perform ultrasound screening with for VP with similar detection rate. However, to further improve perinatal outcomes related to VP, pathophysiology and diagnosis of VP should be more widely recognized by obstetric caregivers throughout Japan.