Bilobed lacentap

¹Department of Community Health Nursing, Smt. Radhikabai Meghe Memorial College of Nursing, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Science (DU), Wardha, India

^&Corresponding author
Pranjali Jode, Department of Community Health Nursing, Smt. Radhikabai Meghe Memorial College of Nursing, Datta Meghe Institute of Medical Science (DU), Wardha, India

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A term placenta was examined following delivery and was noted to have an abnormal gross morphology. The specimen consisted of two nearly equal-sized placental discs separated by a thin membranous bridge. Each disc appeared well formed, dark reddish-brown, and congested, with prominent branching chorionic vessels visible on the fetal surface. The placental tissue appeared viable, with no obvious areas of infarction or calcification. The umbilical cord was seen inserting separately into one placental lobe and then traversing through the membranes to supply the second lobe via communicating vessels. The cord appeared normal in thickness and length, with intact vessels and no evidence of true knots. The membranes connecting the two lobes were thin and translucent, containing exposed vessels, suggesting a velamentous or membranous vascular connection between the lobes. Gross examination suggested that the placental lobes were functionally connected but anatomically distinct. Such a configuration is known to be associated with increased obstetric risks, including retained placental tissue, postpartum haemorrhage, and vasa previa, especially if unrecognised antenatally. No maternal surface abnormalities were evident at the time of examination. Based on the macroscopic features, the findings were consistent with a placental morphological variant rather than a neoplastic or inflammatory pathology. Careful inspection after delivery is essential in such cases to ensure complete removal of the placenta and prevent postpartum complications.

Figure 1: bilobed placenta with two distinct placental discs connected by membranous tissue traversing fetal vessels