Vasa previa

Question 1

What is vasa previa?

Answer 1

Condition in which the fetal vessels are located in the membranes near the internal os of the cervix, putting them at risk of injury if the membranes rupture

Question 2

What are the risk factors of vasa previa?

Answer 2

Placental anomalies
Placenta previa
Multiparity
In-vitro fertilization

Question 3

What are the clinical features of vasa previa?

Answer 3

Painless vaginal bleeding only after rupture of membranes
Fetal distress (e.g., fetal bradycardia; decelerations or sinusoidal pattern on fetal heart tracings)

Question 4

How is vasa previa diagnosed?

Answer 4

Transabdominal or transvaginal ultrasound with color Doppler

Question 5

What is the treatment for vasa previa?

Answer 5

Emergency cesarean if there are signs of fetal distress