Placenta in the Critically Ill Mother

The placenta is a temporary, multifunctional organ composed of both maternal and fetal components. It maintains homeostasis to ensure the growth of the fetus and well-being of the mother. Abnormalities in placental development have been known to be responsible for several disorders of pregnancy. Conditions coincident with pregnancy can upset the homeostasis and result in critical illness, which can greatly impact placental function and in turn affect the fetus. Decreased blood flow, acidemia, hypercarbia, and hypoxia seen in critically ill pregnant mothers can result in fetal death. Understanding the physiological changes and functioning of the maternal–fetal–placental unit will aid in better management of critically ill mothers. HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE: Taggarsi DA, Krishna B. Placenta in the Critically Ill Mother. Indian J Crit Care Med 2021;25(Suppl 3):S200–S205.