Urological complications in women undergoing Cesarean section for placenta accreta spectrum disorders: systematic review and meta-analysis

The Management of Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder

This chapter provides insight into current management strategies for the placenta accreta spectrum (PAS). PAS is one of the most morbid conditions of pregnancy, with significant maternal hemorrhage and surgical morbidity risks, and its increasing incidence. Here, we review the available data to help guide the clinical management of PAS, from time of diagnosis through delivery and postpartum care, while acknowledging the many areas of continued uncertainty. The evidence is strong for the importance of team-based, patient-centered, and multidisciplinary care for patients with PAS. However, much else remains uncertain and is predominantly guided by expert opinion. Ultimately, we aim to provide a current understanding of available literature and to emphasize that continued research is paramount to explore management and surgical approaches to move toward optimization of patient outcomes, including the patient experience.

Evidence-Based Perioperative Management of Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder, characterized by failure of the abnormally adherent placenta to detach from the uterus after delivery, is a leading cause of severe maternal morbidity. Despite its relatively low incidence, disproportional contributions to perinatal hemorrhage, massive transfusion, and emergency hysterectomy underscore the critical need for development of evidence-based surgical management strategies for PAS. There is clear benefit to preoperative management of anemia, as well as preparation for intraoperative resuscitation with blood products and cell salvage. Several tenets of normal cesarean delivery should be maintained in PAS delivery such as the use of neuraxial anesthesia until delivery, prophylactic antibiotics, mechanical thromboprophylaxis intraoperatively, and administration of tranexamic acid if excessive bleeding occurs. Elements of surgical management distinctive to PAS and accepted as best practice include the following: planning delivery at centers with experienced teams when PAS is suspected antenatally, global intraoperative uterine and pelvic survey on entry into the abdominal cavity to assess for anatomic distortion or abnormal vascularity, selection of hysterotomy site for delivery well away from the placental margin, and direct visual assessment of the placental relationship with the myometrium after neonatal delivery and during the start of uterine involution. Other morbidity-reducing strategies such as routine cystoscopy with or without ureteral stent placement, unconventional transverse abdominal entry, hysterotomy extension with surgical staplers, and endovascular hemorrhage reduction tactics involving aortic or iliac balloon occlusion and multivessel arterial embolization remain experimental and require further research.

Overactive Bladder Syndrome Following Cesar ean Hysterectomy for Placenta Accreta Spectrum, A Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

The increasing incidence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) has emerged as a significant concern in obstetrics. This cohort study is aimed at assessing the overactive bladder and other lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women who underwent cesarean hysterectomy for PAS.

METHODS

Between 2022 and 2023, a total of 84 consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed diagnosis of PAS at our academic hospital, Mashhad, Iran, were enrolled and compared with a control group of 42 women who had cesarean section (CS) without hysterectomy, matched for age, gravidity, and number of prior CSs. Symptoms were evaluated using a questionnaire 6-30 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

The median age of the cohort was 35 years (interquartile range, 31-38). In the cesarean hysterectomy group, cystotomy occurred in 17 (20.2%), ureteral injury in 5 (6.0%), and bladder fistula in 1 (1.2%), whereas none was observed in the cesarean group. In women who underwent cesarean hysterectomy, urinary urgency was the most prevalent symptom (48.8%), with the highest frequency and bother scores. Comparing patients who had cesarean hysterectomy with those in the control group, the urinary frequency was significantly more prevalent (34.5% vs 14.3%; p = 0.02), with higher frequency and bother scores (p = 0.017 and 0.005, respectively). Subgroup analysis within the cesarean hysterectomy group revealed that urinary frequency was significantly more prevalent in women who had placenta accreta with bladder invasion and experienced cystotomy compared to those without urinary tract injuries (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

Approximately half of patients undergoing cesarean hysterectomy for PAS experienced symptoms suggestive of overactive bladder 6-30 months postoperatively.

Surgical Morbidity following Planned Hysterectomy versus Conservative Management for Placenta Accreta Spectrum: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

 In recent years, the management of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) has fallen into two categories: planned hysterectomy and conservative management to preserve fertility. However, optimal management remains unclear. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing the two to evaluate which approach was associated with lower surgical morbidity.

STUDY DESIGN

 MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov were searched from inception to July 31, 2023, for trials comparing conservative management versus planned hysterectomy. We included all prospective or retrospective cohort studies, case-control studies, and randomized control studies that reported outcomes related to surgical morbidity in cases of PAS. Surgical morbidity was defined as rates of intensive care unit (ICU) admission, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)/coagulopathy, bladder injury, number of units of packed red blood cells (PRBCs) transfused, estimated blood loss (EBL), and maternal mortality.

RESULTS

 Odds ratios (ORs) were computed with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a fixed or random effects model. Among 839 studies initially retrieved, 12 were included with a total of 1,167 patients. Of these, 669 (57.3%) underwent conservative management and 498 (42.7%) underwent a planned hysterectomy. Conservative management resulted in lower rates of ICU admission (OR = 0.11; 95% CI: 0.04, 0.35), lower rates of bladder injury (OR = 0.31; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.48), lower incidence of DIC or coagulopathy (OR = 0.22; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.48), lower mean difference EBL (-1,292.81 mL; 95% CI: -1,922.16 to -593.46), as well as lower number of PRBC units transfused (-1.54 units; 95% CI: -2.29 to -0.78).

CONCLUSION

 Our findings suggest that conservative management of PAS may be associated with reduced surgical morbidity.

KEY POINTS

· management of PAS has fallen into two categories: planned hysterectomy and conservative management.. · Optimal management for PAS remains unclear.. · conservative management of PAS may be associated with reduced surgical morbidity..

Intended Conservative Management Versus Caesarean Hysterectomy for Known or Suspected Placenta Accreta Spectrum: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

OBJECTIVE

We examined the cost-effectiveness of conservative management (CM) compared to planned caesarean hysterectomy (CH) for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS).

DESIGN

A cost-effectiveness analysis in a theoretical cohort of patients.

SETTING

A decision analytic model.

POPULATION

A theoretical cohort of 1000 pregnant patients with PAS greater than 20 weeks gestation.

METHODS

In base case analysis, we assumed that between 20% and 40% of individuals would be eligible for CM. Model inputs were derived from the literature. Analysis was conducted from a healthcare system perspective with a 1 year analytic horizon. Outcomes included hysterectomy, surgical site infection (SSI), length of hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $50 000 per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) defined cost-effectiveness. Sensitivity analyses were performed.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The cost gained per life year and per QALY.

RESULTS

For base case estimates, CM was the cost-saving strategy with an ICER of $9330.51 USD. Compared to CH, CM resulted in 905 fewer hysterectomies, 80 fewer instances of SSI and five fewer deaths. CM resulted in 149 more admissions with length of stay > 5 days and 25 more ICU admissions. In probabilistic sensitivity analysis, CM was the cost-effective strategy in 71% of runs and the dominant strategy in 42% of runs.

CONCLUSIONS

CM was the cost-effective strategy for the management of PAS in greater than 70% of iterations of our model. Modelling demonstrated significant uncertainty in the comparative effectiveness of the two strategies, highlighting the need for prospective research evaluating the effectiveness of CM.

Emergency delivery in pregnancies at high probability of placenta accreta spectrum on prenatal imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Placenta accreta spectrum disorders are associated with a high risk of maternal morbidity, particularly when surgery is performed under emergency conditions. This study aimed to investigate the incidence of emergency cesarean delivery in patients with a high probability of placenta accreta spectrum disorders on prenatal imaging and to compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes between patients requiring emergency cesarean delivery and those not requiring emergency cesarean delivery.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

This study included case-control studies reporting the outcomes of pregnancies with a high probability of placenta accreta spectrum on prenatal imaging confirmed at birth delivered via unplanned emergency cesarean delivery vs those delivered via planned elective cesarean delivery for maternal or fetal indications. The outcomes observed were the occurrence of emergency cesarean delivery; incidence of placenta accreta and placenta increta/placenta percreta; preterm birth at <34 weeks of gestation; and indications for emergency delivery. This study analyzed and compared the outcomes between patients who underwent emergency cesarean delivery and those who underwent elective cesarean delivery, including estimated blood loss; number of packed red blood cell units transfused and blood products transfused; transfusion of more than 4 units of packed red blood cell; ureteral, bladder, or bowel injury; disseminated intravascular coagulation; relaparotomy after the primary surgery; maternal infection or fever; wound infection; vesicouterine or vesicovaginal fistula; admission to the neonatal intensive care unit; maternal death; composite neonatal morbidity; fetal or neonatal loss; Apgar score of <7 at 5 minutes; and neonatal birthweight.

METHODS

Quality assessment of the included studies was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for case-control and cohort studies. Random-effect meta-analyses of proportions, risks, and mean differences were used to combine the data.

RESULTS

A total of 11 studies with 1290 pregnancies complicated by placenta accreta spectrum were included in the systematic review. Emergency cesarean delivery was reported in 36.2% of pregnancies (95% confidence interval, 28.1-44.9) with placenta accreta spectrum at birth, of which 80.3% of cases (95% confidence interval, 36.5-100.0) occurred before 34 weeks of gestation. The main indication for emergency cesarean delivery was antepartum bleeding, which complicated 61.8% of the cases (95% confidence interval, 32.1-87.4). Patients who underwent emergent cesarean delivery had higher estimated blood loss during surgery (pooled mean difference, 595 mL; 95% confidence interval, 116.10-1073.90; P<.001), higher number of packed red blood cells transfused (pooled mean difference, 2.3 units; 95% confidence interval, 0.99-3.60; P<.001), and higher number of blood products transfused (pooled mean difference, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 1.10-4.90; P=.002) than patients who underwent scheduled cesarean delivery. Patients who underwent emergency cesarean delivery had a higher risk of requiring transfusion of more than 4 units of packed red blood cell (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.7-4.9; P=.002), bladder injury (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-4.0; P=.003), disseminated intravascular coagulation (odds ratio, 6.1; 95% confidence interval, 3.1-13.1; P<.001), and admission to the intensive care unit (odds ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-3.3; P<.001). Newborns delivered via emergency cesarean delivery had a higher risk of adverse composite neonatal outcomes (odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.4-4.7; P=.019), admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (odds ratio, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-5.6; P=.029), Apgar score of <7 at 5 minutes (odds ratio, 2.7; 95% confidence interval, 1.5-4.9; P=.002), and fetal or neonatal loss (odds ratio, 8.2; 95% confidence interval, 2.5-27.4; P<.001).

CONCLUSION

Emergency cesarean delivery complicates approximately 35% of pregnancies affected by placenta accreta spectrum disorders and is associated with a higher risk of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Large prospective studies are needed to evaluate the clinical and imaging signs that can identify patients with a high probability of placenta accreta spectrum at birth, patients at risk of requiring emergency cesarean delivery or peripartum hysterectomy, and patients at high risk of experiencing intrapartum hemorrhage.

Evaluation of preoperative ultrasound signs associated with bladder injury during complex Cesarean delivery: case-control study

OBJECTIVE

Intraoperative hemorrhage and peripartum hysterectomy are the main complications in patients presenting with a low-lying placenta or placenta previa undergoing repeat Cesarean delivery (CD). Patients with a high probability of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) at birth also have a higher risk of intraoperative urologic injury. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ultrasound signs and intraoperative features associated with these injuries.

METHODS

This was a retrospective case-control study of consecutive singleton pregnancies included in a prospective cohort of patients with a history of at least one prior CD and diagnosed prenatally with an anterior low-lying placenta or placenta previa at 32-36 weeks' gestation. All patients underwent investigational preoperative transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound examination within 48 h prior to delivery. Ultrasound anomalies of uterine contour and uteroplacental vascularity, and gross anomalies of the lower uterine segment (LUS) and surrounding pelvic tissue at delivery, were recorded using a standardized protocol, which included evaluation of the extent of uterine contour anomalies. The diagnosis of PAS was established when one or more placental lobules could not be separated digitally from the uterine wall at delivery or during the gross examination of the hysterectomy or partial myometrial resection specimens, and was confirmed by histopathology. Data were compared between cases complicated by intraoperative bladder injury and controls from the same cohort matched at a 1:3 ratio by parity and the number of prior CDs using conditional logistic regression.

RESULTS

There were 16 (9.4%) patients with an intraoperative bladder injury in a cohort of 170 managed by the same multidisciplinary team during the study period. There were no patients diagnosed with ureteric or bladder trigone damage. There were 14 (87.5%) patients with a bladder injury that had histopathologic evidence of PAS at birth, including 11 (68.8%) cases described on microscopic examination as placenta increta and three (18.8%) as placenta creta. There was a significant (P = 0.03) difference between cases and controls in the distribution of intraoperative LUS vascularity, whereby the higher the number of enlarged vessels, the higher the odds of bladder injury. Multivariable regression analysis revealed that both gestational age at delivery and LUS remodeling on transabdominal ultrasound were associated with bladder injury. A higher gestational age was associated with a lower risk of injury. A higher LUS remodeling grade on transabdominal ultrasound was associated with an increased risk of bladder injury. Patients with Grade-3 remodeling (involving > 50% of the LUS) had 9-times higher odds of a bladder injury compared to patients with Grade-1 remodeling (involving < 30% of the LUS).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative ultrasound examination is useful in the evaluation of the risk of intraoperative bladder injury in patients with a history of prior CD presenting with a low-lying placenta or placenta previa. The larger the remodeling of the LUS on transabdominal ultrasound, the higher the risk of adverse urologic events. © 2024 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Addressing Diagnosis, Management, and Complication Challenges in Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder: A Descriptive Study

INTRODUCTION

In light of increased cesarean section rates, the incidence of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorder is increasing. Despite the establishment of clinical practice guidelines offering recommendations for early and effective PAS diagnosis and treatment, antepartum diagnosis of PAS remains a challenge. This ultimately risks poor mental health and poor physical maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

CASE DESCRIPTIONS

This case series details the experience of two high-risk patients who remained undiagnosed for PAS until they presented with antenatal hemorrhage, leading ultimately to necessary, complex surgical interventions, which can only be optimally provide in a tertiary care center. Patient 1 is a 37-year-old woman with a history of three cesarean sections, which elevates her risk for PAS. She had placenta previa detected at 19 weeks, and placenta percreta diagnosed upon hemorrhage. During a hysterectomy, invasive placenta was found in the patient's bladder, leading to a cystotomy and right ureteric reimplantation. After discharge, she was diagnosed with a vesicovaginal fistula, and is currently awaiting surgical repair. Patient 2 is a 34-year-old woman with two previous cesarean sections. The patient had complete placenta previa detected at 19- and 32-week gestation scans. She presented with antepartum hemorrhage at 35 weeks and 2 days. An ultrasound showed thin myometrium at the scar site with significant vascularity. A hysterectomy was performed due to placental attachment issues, with significant blood loss. Both patients were at high risk for PAS based on past medical history, risk factors, and pathognomonic imaging findings.

DISCUSSION

We highlight the importance of the implementation of clinical guidelines at non-tertiary healthcare centers. We offer clinical-guideline-informed recommendations for radiologists and antenatal care providers to promote early PAS diagnosis and, ultimately, better patient and neonatal outcomes through increased access to adequate care.

Three-dimensional volume rendering ultrasound for assessing placenta accreta spectrum severity and discriminating it from simple scar dehiscence

BACKGROUND

Prenatal ultrasound discrimination between placenta accreta spectrum and scar dehiscence with underlying nonadherent placenta is challenging both prenatally and intraoperatively, which often leads to overtreatment. In addition, accurate prenatal prediction of surgical difficulty and morbidity in placenta accreta spectrum is difficult, which precludes appropriate multidisciplinary planning. The advent of advanced 3-dimensional volume rendering and contrast enhancement techniques in modern ultrasound systems provides a comprehensive prenatal assessment, revealing details that are not discernible in traditional 2-dimensional imaging.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the use of 3-dimensional volume rendering ultrasound techniques in determining the severity of placenta accreta spectrum and distinguishing between placenta accreta spectrum and scar dehiscence with underlying nonadherent placenta.

STUDY DESIGN

A prospective, cohort study was conducted between July 2022 and July 2023 in the fetal medicine unit of Dr Soetomo Academic General Hospital, Surabaya, Indonesia. All pregnant individuals with anterior low-lying placenta or placenta previa with a previous caesarean section who were referred with suspicion of placenta accreta spectrum were consented and screened using the standardised 2-dimensional and Doppler ultrasound imaging. Additional 3-dimensional volumes were obtained from the sagittal section of the uterus with a filled urinary bladder. These were analyzed by rotating the region of interest to be perpendicular to the uterovesical interface. The primary outcomes were the clinical and histologic severity in the cases of placenta accreta spectrum and correct diagnosis of dehiscence with nonadherent placenta underneath. The strength of association between ultrasound and clinical outcomes was determined. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and diagnostic testing of accuracy were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

A total of 70 patients (56 with placenta accreta spectrum and 14 with scar dehiscence) were included in the analysis. Multivariate logistic regression of all 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional signs revealed the 3-dimensional loss of clear zone (P<.001) and the presence of bridging vessels on 2-dimensional Doppler ultrasound (P=.027) as excellent predictors in differentiating scar dehiscence and placenta accreta spectrum. The 3-dimensional loss of clear zone demonstrated a high diagnostic accuracy with an area under the curve of 0.911 (95% confidence interval, 0.819-1.002), with a sensitivity of 89.3% (95% confidence interval, 78.1-95.97%) and specificity of 92.9% (95% confidence interval, 66.1-99.8%). The presence of bridging vessels on 2-dimensional Doppler demonstrated an area under the curve of 0.848 (95% confidence interval, 0.714-0.982) with a sensitivity of 91.1% (95% confidence interval, 80.4-97.0%) and specificity of 78.6% (95% confidence interval, 49.2-95.3%). A subgroup analysis among the placenta accreta spectrum group revealed that the presence of a 3-dimensional disrupted bladder serosa with obliteration of the vesicouterine space was associated with vesicouterine adherence (P<.001).

CONCLUSION

Three-dimensional volume rendering ultrasound is a promising tool for effective discrimination between scar dehiscence with underlying nonadherent placenta and placenta accreta spectrum. It also shows potential in predicting the clinical severity with urinary bladder involvement in cases of placenta accreta spectrum.

Vesicovaginal Fistulas: Prevalence, Impact, and Management Challenges

Background and Objectives: Vesicovaginal fistulas (VVFs) are an abnormal communication between the vagina and bladder and the most common type of acquired genital fistulas. This review will address the prevalence, impact, and management challenges of VVFs. Materials and Methods: Epidemiologic studies examining VVFs are considered. In addition, publications addressing the treatment of VVFs are reviewed. Results: VVFs in developing countries are often caused by obstructed labor, while most VVFs in developed countries have iatrogenic causes, such as hysterectomy, radiation therapy, and infection. The reported prevalence of VVFs is approximately 1 in 1000 post-hysterectomy patients and 1 in 1000 deliveries. VVFs affect every aspect of quality of life, including physical, mental, social, and sexual aspects. Prevention of VVFs is essential. Early diagnosis is necessary to reduce morbidity. Nutrition, infection control, and malignancy detection are important considerations during evaluation and treatment. Conservative and surgical treatment options are available; however, these approaches should be customized to the individual patient. The success rate of combined conservative and surgical treatments exceeds 90%. Conclusions: VVFs are considered debilitating and devastating. However, they are preventable and treatable; key factors include the avoidance of prolonged labor, careful performance of gynecologic surgery, and early detection.