Pathologic Examination of the Placenta and Observed Practice

OBJECTIVE:To estimate the percentage of deliveries eligible for pathologic examination of the placenta and compare with observed practice using the College of American Pathologists’ (CAP) 1997 guidelines for examination of the placenta. METHODS:Records were reviewed from all live-birth deliveries 20 weeks or more of gestation in 2001 at Strong Memorial Hospital. The expected number of deliveries with CAP recommended indications was determined and compared with the observed number of deliveries in which the placenta was actually examined. Descriptive statistics, independent t tests, χ tests, difference between two population proportions test, odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals, and multiple logistic regression were used to analyze the data. RESULTS:The observed number and percentage of deliveries with CAP recommended indications that had pathologic placental examination, 575 and 18.2% (95% confidence interval 16.9–19.6), was significantly lower (P