Uterine body placenta accreta spectrum: A detailed literature review

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a major obstetrical problem whose incidence is rising. Current guidelines recommend screening of all women with placenta previa and risk factors for PAS between 20 and 24 weeks. Risk factors, diagnosis, and management of previa PAS are well established, but an apparently normal location of the placenta does not exclude PAS. Literature data are scarce on uterine body PAS, which carries a high risk of maternal and neonatal adverse outcome, but is still easily missed on prenatal ultrasound. We conducted a comprehensive review to identify possible risk factors, clinical presentations, and diagnostic modalities of uterine PAS. A total of 133 cases were found during a 70-year period (1949-2019). The vast majority of them presented with signs of uterine rupture, even prior to the viability threshold of 24 weeks (up to 45%). Major risk factors included previous cesarean delivery, uterine curettage, uterine surgery, Asherman's syndrome, manual removal of the placenta, endometritis, high parity, young maternal age, in vitro fertilization, radiotherapy, uterine artery embolization, and uterine leiomyoma. Diagnosis was pre-symptomatic in only 3% of cases. Future studies should differentiate between previa PAS and uterine body PAS.

Placenta percreta complicated by uterine rupture and thrombotic microangiopathy

Background

Uterine rupture at the site of a previous caesarean scar with abnormal placental penetration through the uterus wall with bladder invasion is a rare and serious pregnancy complication. Our aim was to report a case of uterine rupture with placenta percreta complicated by thrombotic microangiopathy.

Materials and methods

We did a literature review and analysed medical documentation retrospectively.

Results

A patient was admitted with complaints of lower abdominal pain at 21 weeks of gestation. Sonography of the caesarean scar increased suspicion of placental penetration. Anaemia, thrombocytopenia, coagulopathy, and acute kidney injury developed and led to the diagnosis of thrombotic microangiopathy. The termination of pregnancy was required due to severe deterioration in organ functions. The complete uterine rupture with placenta percreta invading the urinary bladder was confirmed, and total hysterectomy was performed to control life-threatening haemorrhage. The patient was treated by blood component transfusions, renal replacement therapy, and plasmapheresis. Good health was confirmed two months later by laboratory and instrumental tests.

Conclusions

It is a rare but very serious condition that increases morbidity of mother and foetus, therefore immediate diagnostics and treatment are required.

The diagnosis and management of morbidly adherent placenta

The incidence of morbidly adherent placenta (MAP) has risen 13-fold since the early 1900s and is directly correlated with the rising rate of cesarean delivery. It is important for clinicians to screen all pregnancies for MAP at the time of routine second-trimester ultrasonography. In addition, patients with risk factors (e.g., multiple prior cesarean deliveries) should undergo targeted screening for MAP. Optimal maternal and fetal outcomes for these high-risk pregnancies result from accurate prenatal diagnosis and comprehensive multidisciplinary preparation and delivery between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation. There continue to be large knowledge gaps with respect to the optimal management of this condition especially around diagnosis, obstetric care, timing of delivery, and surgical management. Accordingly, most recommendations are based on expert opinion rather than on high-quality evidence. Prospective clinical trials are needed to address knowledge gaps and to continue to improve outcomes.