Successful Conservative Management of Placenta Previa Totalis and Extensive Percreta

Retrospective study of placenta accreta, placenta increta and placenta percreta in Peripartum hysterectomy specimens

Background

Abnormal placentations such as placenta accreta, placenta increta and placenta percreta are important causes of hemorrhage after delivery causing maternal morbidity and mortality. Risk factors for abnormal placentation are prior caesarean section, placenta previa and pre-eclampsia. There is a need for reliable antenatal diagnosis for these serious conditions. If these pregnancies can be identified, antepartum, site and time of delivery as well as the surgical approach can be planned ahead; this decreases the incidence of maternal mortality due to massive hemorrhage.

Aim

(1) To study the incidence of abnormal placentation in emergency peripartum hysterectomy specimen. (2) To evaluate various risk factors associated with abnormal placentation.

Materials and Method

Retrospective cross-section study done in patients with abnormal placentation leading to emergency peripartum hysterectomy during a course of eight-year period.

Result

We received total of 18 emergency hysterectomy specimens during eight-year period of which placenta accreta accounts 55.5 percent (10/18), placenta increta upto 38.8 percent (7/18) and placenta percreta 5.5 percent (1/18). Analysis of result with parity shows uniparous women up to 22.2 percent (4/18), and multiparous women 77.7 percent (14/18). Risk factor analysis shows previous caesarean section in 55.5 percent (10/18), placenta previa in 33.3 percent (6/18) and pre-eclampsia in 11.1 percent (2/18).

Conclusion

In our study, among abnormal placentation, incidence of placenta accreta accounts for 55.5 percent and it is more common in multiparous women than uniparous women. Among risk factors in our study, previous caesarean section is commonly associated with abnormal placentation followed by a placenta previa and pre-eclampsia.

A Case of Placenta Percreta Managed with Sequential Embolisation Procedures

Background

The incidence of morbidly adherent placenta, including placenta percreta, has increased significantly over recent years due to rising caesarean section rates. Historically, abnormally invasive placenta has been managed with caesarean hysterectomy; however nonsurgical interventions such as uterine artery embolisation (UAE) are emerging as safe alternative management techniques. UAE can be utilised to decrease placental perfusion and encourage placental resorption, thereby reducing the risk of haemorrhage and other morbidities.

Case

We describe one of the very few reported cases of placenta percreta which was successfully treated primarily with sequential artery embolisation. Our patient underwent four embolisation procedures over a period of 248 days, with no major morbidity or complications.

Conclusion

Repeat UAE may be a beneficial primary management modality in cases of placenta percreta with bladder involvement.

Accreta placentation: a systematic review of prenatal ultrasound imaging and grading of villous invasiveness

BACKGROUND

Determining the depth of villous invasiveness before delivery is pivotal in planning individual management of placenta accreta. We have evaluated the value of various ultrasound signs proposed in the international literature for the prenatal diagnosis of accreta placentation and assessment of the depth of villous invasiveness.

OBJECTIVE

We undertook a PubMed and MEDLINE search of the relevant studies published from the first prenatal ultrasound description of placenta accreta in 1982 through March 30, 2016, using key words "placenta accreta," "placenta increta," "placenta percreta," "abnormally invasive placenta," "morbidly adherent placenta," and "placenta adhesive disorder" as related to "sonography," "ultrasound diagnosis," "prenatal diagnosis," "gray-scale imaging," "3-dimensional ultrasound", and "color Doppler imaging."

STUDY DESIGN

The primary eligibility criteria were articles that correlated prenatal ultrasound imaging with pregnancy outcome. A total of 84 studies, including 31 case reports describing 38 cases of placenta accreta and 53 series describing 1078 cases were analyzed. Placenta accreta was subdivided into placenta creta to describe superficially adherent placentation and placenta increta and placenta percreta to describe invasive placentation.

RESULTS

Of the 53 study series, 23 did not provide data on the depth of villous myometrial invasion on ultrasound imaging or at delivery. Detailed correlations between ultrasound findings and placenta accreta grading were found in 72 cases. A loss of clear zone (62.1%) and the presence of bridging vessels (71.4%) were the most common ultrasound signs in cases of placenta creta. In placenta increta, a loss of clear zone (84.6%) and subplacental hypervascularity (60%) were the most common ultrasound signs, whereas placental lacunae (82.4%) and subplacental hypervascularity (54.5%) were the most common ultrasound signs in placenta percreta. No ultrasound sign or a combination of ultrasound signs were specific of the depth of accreta placentation.

CONCLUSION

The wide heterogeneity in terminology used to describe the grades of accreta placentation and differences in study design limits the evaluation of the accuracy of ultrasound imaging in the screening and diagnosis of placenta accreta. This review emphasizes the need for further prospective studies using a standardized evidence-based approach including a systematic correlation between ultrasound signs of placenta accreta and detailed clinical and pathologic examinations at delivery.

Conservative Management of Invasive Placenta Using Combined Prophylactic Internal Iliac Artery Balloon Occlusion and Immediate Postoperative Uterine Artery Embolization

Purpose

The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of combined prophylactic intraoperative internal iliac artery balloon occlusion and postoperative uterine artery embolization in the conservative management (uterine preservation) of women with invasive placenta undergoing scheduled caesarean delivery.

Methods

Ten women (mean age 35 years) with invasive placenta choosing caesarean delivery without hysterectomy had preoperative insertion of internal iliac artery occlusion balloons, intraoperative inflation of the balloons, and immediate postoperative uterine artery embolization with absorbable gelatin sponge. A retrospective review was performed with institutional review board approval. Outcome measures were intraoperative blood loss, transfusion requirement, hysterectomy rate, endovascular complications, surgical complications, and postoperative morbidity.

Results

All women had placenta increta or percreta, and concomitant complete placenta previa. Mean gestational age at delivery was 36 weeks. In 6 women the placenta was left undisturbed in the uterus, 2 had partial removal of the placenta, and 2 had piecemeal removal of the whole placenta. Mean estimated blood loss during caesarean delivery was 1.2 L. Only 2 patients (20%) required blood transfusion. There were no intraoperative surgical complications, endovascular complications, maternal deaths, or perinatal deaths. Three women developed postpartum complications necessitating postpartum hysterectomy; the hysterectomy rate was therefore 30% and uterine preservation was successful in 70%.

Conclusion

Combined bilateral internal iliac artery balloon occlusion and uterine artery embolization may be an effective strategy to control intraoperative blood loss and preserve the uterus in patients with invasive placenta undergoing caesarean delivery.

Maternal outcome after conservative management of placenta percreta at caesarean section: a report of three cases and a review of the literature

Retaining the placenta in situ at caesarean section for placenta percreta and awaiting placental reabsorption is widely practiced; however, there is limited evidence on the efficacy and complications of this strategy. We present three cases of placenta percreta managed conservatively and note that all three women experienced significant complications. A review of the literature showed that despite initial conservative management, 40% of women subsequently require emergency hysterectomy and 42% will experience major morbidity.

Invasive placentation and uterus preserving treatment modalities: a systematic review

Purpose

We present a systematic review to evaluate failure rates (secondary hysterectomy or maternal mortality) and success rates (subsequent menstruation or pregnancy) after different uterus preserving treatment modalities in women with invasive placentation.

Methods

A review of English, German or Dutch language-published research, using Medline and Embase databases, was performed. Studies of any design were included.

Results

Ten cohort studies and 50 case series or case reports were included. Expectant management reported a secondary hysterectomy in 55/287 (19%), maternal mortality in 1/295 (0.3%), a subsequent menstruation in 44/49 (90%) and a subsequent pregnancy in 24/36 (67%). Embolization of the uterine arteries described a secondary hysterectomy in 8/45 (18%), a subsequent menstruation in 8/13 (62%) and a subsequent pregnancy in 5/33 (15%). Methotrexate therapy presented a secondary hysterectomy in 1/16 (6%), a subsequent menstruation in 4/5 (80%) and a subsequent pregnancy in 1/2 (50%). Uterus preserving surgery showed a secondary hysterectomy in 24/77 (31%), maternal mortality in 2/55 (4%), a subsequent menstruation in 28/34 (82%) and a subsequent pregnancy in 19/26 (73%).

Conclusions

This review indicates that different uterus preserving treatment modalities may be effective in managing invasive placentation. Despite the extensive review of the literature, no conclusions about the superiority of any modality can be drawn.