Is it time to actively look for vasa praevia?

Abstract

Vasa praevia can cause acute severe fetal haemorrhage prior to or during rupture of the membranes, contributing to perinatal morbidity and mortality. There are no large prospective studies relating to vasa praevia and there is no place for a randomised controlled trial as it would be ethically unjustifiable given the poor prognosis. There are no national guidelines for the management of vasa praevia. Identification of vasa praevia by the 3rd trimester of pregnancy warrants the offer of delivery by planned caesarean section to avoid the complications. This is essentially intuitive and logical rather than based on any randomised trials. A universal screening programme for vasa praevia is not currently supported by a robust evidence base; however, the role of prenatal diagnosis requires an informed debate, as high quality data may not be forthcoming, given the low evidence of the condition. Increasing awareness and understanding of the clinical situations can accumulate information, which identify and treat this tragic complication of childbirth.