The many and varied medical uses of the placenta

For many years, the placenta had been considered nothing more than clinical waste, a temporary organ that had served its sole purpose of sustaining a foetus, and was then disposed of. However, the medical community has now begun to see the placenta as something more than a birth byproduct: it functions as an intricate biological system of its own. This organ now serves as a primary source of highly potent stem cells, together with growth factors and special tissues that can help create new treatment methods for both chronic wound healing and complex ophthalmic surgical procedures.

What the placenta can do

The medical usefulness of the placenta starts with the amniotic membrane, the innermost layer of the sac, which acts as a powerful healing tool. This tissue is unique because it is immune privileged, meaning it can be transplanted into almost anyone without the body’s immune system attacking it. In eye care, doctors use thin, preserved pieces of this membrane as a biological bandage to heal chemical burns or ulcers. It provides a platform for new cells to grow and releases natural chemicals that stop inflammation and prevent scarring, often saving a patient’s sight.

Beyond the membrane, the main body of the placenta is a rich source of neonatal stem cells. These cells are brand new and much more effective at repairing the body than older stem cells taken from an adult’s bone marrow. As the placenta is naturally built to transport blood and nutrients, it is now being used for its structural skeleton to grow artificial blood vessels and even repair heart tissue that has been damaged during a heart attack.

For elderly patients suffering from chronic diabetic foot wounds, these placental tissues have become life-saving treatments. A standard dressing placed on wounds merely covers them; placental tissues on the other hand, act like a biochemical factory triggering the growth of new blood vessels. This process, called angiogenesis, is the key to closing deep wounds that have refused to heal for months or even years. By using these tissues, surgeons can often avoid the need for limb amputations, allowing patients to stay mobile and reducing the heavy costs of long-term hospital care.

The placenta also provides insights into the health history of the mother and child. A pathological analysis of the placenta can provide information about underlying vascular problems or hidden infections that could impact the mother’s long-term vascular health or the child’s developmental path.

Can you donate?

The transformation of the placenta from waste to a valuable medical resource also brings about an important discussion related to birth tissue donation. Just as in the case of organ donation, this procedure is also governed by strict regulations and needs to be carried out with the consent of the would-be mother, which is usually obtained well before the onset of labour. It is essential to note that the procurement of the placenta is a completely non-invasive procedure that takes place only after the baby has been safely delivered, and there is no risk involved to the mother or the baby.

The placenta, therefore, represents an organ that has completed its first task of supporting one life and is now being used to support the lives of many.

(Dr. Priyanka Dass is consultant – obstetrician, gynaecologist, infertility specialist, and laparoscopic surgeon at Motherhood Hospitals, Kothanur, Bengaluru. drpriyanka.das@outlook.com)