Placenta accreta

Placement of a cervical cerclage in combination with an intrauterine balloon catheter to arrest postpartum hemorrhage

Placement of a cervical cerclage postpartum allows retention of a uterine tamponade balloon in women with a dilated cervix. This novel indication for a cervical cerclage may be a useful adjunct to intrauterine balloon catheter in management of postpartum uterine hemorrhage.

Multiple repeat cesareans and the threat of placenta accreta: incidence, diagnosis, management

Placenta accreta is a significant source of obstetric morbidity and mortality. Its incidence is increasing as a direct consequence of the increasing cesarean section rate, which reflects increased rates of maternal obesity, increased numbers of multiple gestations secondary to assisted reproductive technology, physician concern about litigation for adverse obstetric outcome, and a decline in the use of operative vaginal delivery for both cephalic and breech presentations. Optimum management for most cases requires elective cesarean hysterectomy, ideally performed at about 34 weeks' gestation. A multidisciplinary approach produces the best outcomes.

Maternal outcomes according to placental position in placental previa

PURPOSE

The purpose of this retrospective cohort study was to elucidate whether the location of placenta below uterine incision in cesarean section is important in the development of maternal complications in placenta previa patients.

METHODS

The study was conducted on 409 patients 414 parturition at 3 hospitals in affiliation with the Catholic Medical Center, Seoul, Korea from May 1999 to December 2009. The subjects were divided to two groups: the group whose placenta was located in the anterior portion of the uterus (anterior group) and the group whose placenta was located in the posterior portion of the uterus (posterior group). And then they are compared to each other. Logistic regression was used to control for confounding factors.

RESULTS

In the anterior group, regardless of confounding factors, the incidence of excessive blood loss (OR 2.97; 95% CI: 1.64-5.37), massive transfusion (OR 3.31; 95% CI: 1.33-8.26), placental accreta (OR 2.60, 95% CI: 1.40-4.83), and hysterectomy (OR 3.47, 95% CI: 1.39-8.68) was higher.

CONCLUSION

Sonographic determination of the placental position where its location beneath the uterine incision is very important to predict maternal outcomes in placenta previa patients, and such cases, close attention should be paid for massive hemorrhage.