PLACENTAL DYSTOCIA Meaning and
Definition
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Placental dystocia refers to a medical condition during childbirth where there is difficulty or inability to deliver the placenta naturally after the baby is born. The placenta is an organ that develops during pregnancy to provide oxygen and nutrients to the growing fetus. Following childbirth, the placenta should normally separate from the uterine wall and be expelled from the mother's body. However, in cases of placental dystocia, this process is interrupted or delayed, leading to potential complications.
Placental dystocia can occur due to various reasons, such as inadequate contractions of the uterus, abnormal attachment of the placenta to the uterine wall, or anatomical abnormalities of the uterus. This condition may be associated with symptoms like prolonged bleeding, severe pain, or infection in the mother. Additionally, it can also obstruct the passage of urine and cause bladder problems.
If left untreated, placental dystocia can lead to serious complications, including postpartum hemorrhage, infection, or retained placenta fragments. It may also increase the risk of maternal or neonatal mortality. Therefore, immediate medical intervention is crucial to manage this condition.
Treatment of placental dystocia typically involves manual extraction of the placenta by a healthcare professional. In some cases, medications may be administered to help the uterus contract and facilitate the placental separation. In severe cases, surgical intervention, such as a dilation and curettage procedure, may be required.
Overall, placental dystocia is a medical term used to describe the condition in which the delivery of the placenta is obstructed or delayed after childbirth, requiring medical intervention to ensure its safe removal from the mother's body.
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Retention or difficult delivery of the placenta.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for PLACENTAL DYSTOCIA
Etymology of PLACENTAL DYSTOCIA
The word "placental dystocia" consists of two main components: "placental" and "dystocia".
- "Placental" comes from the Latin word "placenta", which refers to the afterbirth or the organ that develops during pregnancy to provide oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. The term "placenta" itself has its roots in the Latin "plācere", meaning "to please" or "to satisfy", possibly because the placenta satisfies the fetus's need for nourishment.
- "Dystocia" comes from the Greek word "dystokía", which is a combination of "dys" (meaning "difficult" or "abnormal") and "tokos" (meaning "birth" or "delivery"). So, "dystocia" refers to difficult or abnormal labor or childbirth.
