Venous Lakes

Question: Does anyone know anything about Venous Lakes seen on Ultrasound? I am 34 weeks pregnant and have been told I need to have another ultrasound as the midwife saw "several Venous Lakes" in the placenta. I was told that there is a chance I could bleed out. Has anyone had any experience with Venous Lakes & do I have anything to worry about?

Answer: I see these from time to time. At each link, you can get more information: "Placental lakes are considered to be a normal finding in most cases." http://www.obfocus.com/questions/qanda37… This site says venous lakes are seen quite often: http://www.medical.philips.com/kr/produc… Occasionally, large and numerous venous lakes are seen when there is a placenta accreta. This means the placenta is abnormally firmly attached to the uterus. After delivery, it can be hard to stop the bleeding that occurs when the placenta separates from the uterine wall. BUT, a placenta can have venous lakes, and not have placenta accreta. "Three sonographic signs were found to predict placenta accreta: concomitant placenta previa; large or numerous placental venous "lakes"; and a remarkably thin, or even nonvisualized, lower uterine segment." http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0… Best wishes and try to relax. Your venous lakes are more than likely just a normal variant!

Question: Venous lakes seen on ultra sound in placenta? Please Help!? I am 34 weeks pregnant and have been told I have several Venous Lakes surrounding the placenta & that there is a chanc I may bleed out. Does anyone have any experience with Venous Lakes and do I have anything to worry about? Please help!

Answer: Placental lakes are enlarged spaces in the placenta filled with maternal blood. These spaces are also called intervillous spaces because they are found between the placental villi the finger-like projections of the placenta that contain fetal blood vessels . The placental villi float in the intervillous spaces and absorb oxygen and nutrients from the maternal blood. The blood-filled placental lakes appear nearly black on ultrasound because they do not reflect soundwaves back to the ultrasound machine. Placental lakes can be seen within the placenta or on the fetal surface of the placenta bulging into the amniotic cavity. Slow swirling blood flow may be seen within the spaces, and the shape of the spaces tends to change with uterine contractions. Placental lakes are considered to be a normal finding in most cases. However, multiple placental lakes seen early in pregnancy in association with decreases umbilical artery blood flow have been associated with fetal growth restriction. In a patient with placenta previa and previous uterine surgery multiple placental lakes should raise suspicion for placenta accreta or percreta. Multiple placental lakes may also mimic gestational trophoblastic disease.

Question: Succenturiate anterior lobe, posterior placenta with venous lakes, what does this mean for my baby? I was diagnosed at the ER at 15 weeks with succenturiate placenta and venous lakes, I was having some bleeding after falling out of the bed. I understand succ. is a twin placenta, but what are the risks for me during my c section, and does this indicate fetal abnormalities? I cant see my ob till jan8 and im a wreck. I've had 5 miscarriages (all hcg less than 298 considered blighted ovum) trying to have this baby. I cant really find any answers.

Answer: I just went through some scary stuff, so I'll try my best to help you out, although I don't have the answers!! succenturiate placenta: And a few develop in two quite separate pieces - a larger, roundish piece and a much smaller one, connected only by blood vessels running through the double layer of the membranes. The pieces may be several inches apart, and the smaller piece is called a 'succenturiate lobe'. Very occasionally, a placenta may have two or more succenturiate lobes. We have no idea why a succenturiate lobe may develop. Maybe a slight irregularity or tiny scar on the uterine wall makes a small area inhospitable to the growing placenta, forcing a lobe to 'move over' and grow elsewhere. But whatever the cause, from the baby's point of view, a succenturiate lobe makes little difference. Because the two parts of the placenta are connected by blood vessels, the organ works as a whole to nurture and protect the baby. There is no need for you to be especially careful with sporting activities (beyond the normal cautions advised during pregnancy) - or to avoid sex, unless you have been specifically advised to do so for other reasons. it is vital that all the pieces of the placenta are removed from the uterus at the end of labour. Failure to do so may result in haemorrhage and/or infection. As a matter of course, your midwife will examine your placenta closely after it is delivered. It should be obvious if any bits are missing, since there will be blood vessels leading off from the main placenta to a hole in the membranes. The remaining bit may then have to be manually removed from your uterus, generally under a spinal anaesthetic. Having said this, most odd-shaped placentae, including those with a succenturiate lobe, are delivered with no difficulty or delay. venous lakes: refers to the collections of blood flow between the placenta and inner wall of the uterus. Venous lakes alone are unlikely to cause problems to either yourself or the baby, but your obstetrician will be monitoring the placenta throughout your pregnancy to check for any further problems. Basically, neither should be of huge concern - your baby will be just fine! Continue to see your doctor on a regulaur basis for check-ups, especially near the end of your pregnancy. Best Wishes. Oh yes, If you have a posterior placenta, your placenta is on the back side of the womb and in back of your baby. It does not have any health implications, so it is not frequently something your healthcare provider will tell you unless you specifically ask. A posterior placenta is ideal for 3D/4D imaging.

Question: what is placenta venous lake? ok, I'm 21 weeks pregnant and my ob discover a licking in the placenta she says that my baby is fine and not to worry, and she had me done another sonogram to see if the licking is worsen or is gone.......................but I wnat to know what this is and why it happen and if it has any affect to my baby or my pregnancy?

Answer: You should start asking your doctor these questions. Only they know you and your pregnancy well enough to explain it. You can try looking it up on Google.