Increased incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in neonates of mothers with abnormally invasive placentation

BACKGROUND: The incidence of abnormally invasive placentation (AIP) is increasing. Most of these pregnancies are delivered preterm. We sought to characterize neonatal outcomes in AIP pregnancies. METHODS: In this retrospective case-control study (2006–2015), AIP neonates (n = 108) were matched to two controls each for gestational age, antenatal glucocorticoid exposure, sex, plurity, and delivery mode. Medical records were reviewed for neonatal and maternal characteristics/outcomes. Univariate and multivariate Poisson regressions were performed to determine relative risk ratios (RR). RESULTS: There were no mortalities. All neonatal outcomes were similar except for respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), which affected 37% of AIP neonates (versus 21% of controls). AIP neonates required respiratory support (64.8% vs. 51.9%) and continuous positive airway pressure (53.7% vs. 42.1%) for a longer duration. Univariate regression yielded elevated RRs for RDS for AIP (RR 1.78, 95% CI 1.24–2.54), placenta previa (RR = 1.94, 95% CI 1.36–2.76), and placenta previa with bleeding (RR 2.29, 95% CI 1.36–3.86). One episode of bleeding had a RR of 2.43 (95% CI 1.57–3.76), 2 or more episodes had a RR of 2.95 (95% CI 1.96–4.44), and bleeding/abruption as the delivery indication had a RR of 2.57 (95% CI 1.82–3.64). A multivariate regression stratifying for AIP and evaluating the combined and individual associations of AIP, bleeding, placenta previa, and GA, resulted in elevated RRs for placenta previa alone (RR 2.16, 95% CI 1.15–4.06) and placenta previa and bleeding (RR 1.69, 95% CI 1.001–2.85). CONCLUSIONS: The increased incidence of RDS at later gestational ages in AIP is driven by placenta previa. AIP neonates required respiratory support for a longer duration than age-matched controls. Providers should be prepared to counsel expectant parents and care for affected neonates.