Placental Findings in Term Singleton Stillbirths in a Public Hospital in Emalahleni Sub-District in Mpumalanga Province: A Descriptive Study.
Ouma Vilane, Mariatha Yazbek, Maurine Musie
PMID 40082244WHAT IT FOUND
In 89 term stillbirth placentas, maternal vascular malperfusion was the most common microscopic finding.
Sixty-four percent had very small placentas, and 49% had infarcts. These lesions link placental dysfunction to stillbirth, supporting mandatory placental examination to help explain causes.
Key findings
01Maternal vascular malperfusion was the most significant placental finding, involving hypoplasia, infarcts, and hemorrhage.
02Sixty-four percent of placentas were very small for gestational age, and 49% showed infarcts on macroscopic examination.
03Seventy-five percent of the stillbirths were macerated, suggesting the fetal death occurred before labor began.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study was conducted in a single public hospital in one sub-district, so the findings may not apply to other populations or settings. Only term singleton stillbirths were included, excluding second and early third-trimester losses where placental lesions may also be significant. Paternal lifestyle factors and medical history were not collected, missing a potential contributor to stillbirth risk. Histology reports were not standardized, as different pathologists used different formats, which may affect the consistency of microscopic findings.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the associations between maternal conditions and placental lesions as proof that these conditions caused the stillbirths. This is a descriptive study of placentas from women who already experienced a stillbirth, so it cannot establish causality or predict risk for individual patients without further controlled research.