Guideline No. 439: Diagnosis and Management of Vasa Previa

Abstract

Objective: To summarize the current evidence and to make recommendations for diagnosis and classification of vasa previa and for management of women with this diagnosis.

Target population: Pregnant women with vasa previa or low-lying fetal vessels.

Options: To manage vasa previa in hospital or at home, and to perform a cesarean delivery preterm or at term, or to allow a trial of labour when a diagnosis of vasa previa or low-lying fetal vessels is suspected or confirmed.

Outcomes: Prolonged hospitalization, preterm birth, rate of cesarean delivery, and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

Benefits, harms, and costs: Women with vasa previa or low-lying fetal vessels are at an increased risk of maternal and fetal or postnatal adverse outcomes. These outcomes include a potentially incorrect diagnosis, need for hospitalization, unnecessary restriction of activities, an early delivery, and an unnecessary cesarean delivery. Optimization of diagnostic and management protocols can improve maternal and fetal or postnatal outcomes.

Evidence: Medline, Pubmed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to March 2022, using medical subject headings (MeSH) and keywords related to pregnancy, vasa previa, low-lying fetal vessels, antepartum hemorrhage, short cervix, preterm labour, and cesarean delivery. This document presents an abstraction of the evidence rather than a methodological review.

Validation methods: The authors rated the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. See online Appendix A (Tables A1 for definitions and A2 for interpretations of strong and weak recommendations).

Intended audience: Obstetric care providers, including obstetricians, family physicians, nurses, midwives, maternal-fetal medicine specialists, and radiologists.

Tweetable abstract: Unprotected fetal vessels in placental membranes and cord that are close to the cervix, including vasa previa, need careful characterization by sonographic examination and evidence-based management to reduce risks to the baby and the mother during pregnancy and delivery.

Summary statements: RECOMMENDATIONS.

Keywords: Placenta; cesarean delivery; intrapartum hemorrhage; postpartum hemorrhage; prenatal diagnosis.