Nonoperative treatment of placenta percreta: value of MR imaging

Management of Abnormal Placenta Implantation with Methotrexate: A Review of Published Data

Abnormally invasive placenta is characterized by direct attachment of chorionic villi to the uterine wall. This adherent placenta traditionally has been managed by peripartum hysterectomy. Nowadays, there is a lot of interest toward gradual shift from traditional management of invasive placentation to conservative ones leaving the placenta in situ to avoid the surgical morbidity of hysterectomy and loss of future fertility. Administration of methotrexate (MTX), as an adjunctive antimetabolite drug, resulted in conflicting data during conservative management of abnormal placentation. This review assessed all published data on efficacy and safety of MTX therapy as conservative management of invasive placentation. Fifty-three articles including one prospective cohort study, 2 retrospective cohort studies, 10 case series and 40 case reports were identified. Conservative management has beneficial effects on the avoidance of major surgery with the consequent morbidity and the preservation of future fertility. Infection and vaginal bleeding were main complications of MTX therapy. Although MTX therapy may result in accelerated involution or expulsion of placenta and has some beneficial effects on hemorrhagic events, but there is not enough evidence on its efficacy and safety to recommend its routine uses in all cases of invasive placenta.

Placenta Percreta in First Trimester Leading to Disseminated Intravascular Coagulopathy (DIC): A Rare Case Report

Placenta percreta is the most severe form of abnormal placental attachment. It is a variant of placenta accreta in which chorionic villi penetrate the entire thickness of the myometrium through the uterine serosa and may involve the adjacent structures. Literature review shows very few cases encountered during the first trimester of pregnancy. A-20-year-old woman with previous one cesarean section presented with continuous vaginal bleeding beginning after incomplete abortion at seven weeks and six days period of gestation for which she underwent dilatation and curettage. MRI revealed irregular heterogeneous signal intensity mass with large area of hemorrhage in lower anterior wall extending towards the endometrial cavity suggestive of morbid adherent placenta. Following continuous bleeding after repeated curettage for retained, adherent placenta her coagulation profile got deranged and DIC developed. Correction of coagulopathy and emergency hysterectomy as a life saving measure for placenta percreta was done in our case.

Placenta percreta at 17 weeks with consecutive hysterectomy: a case report and review of the literature

Placenta percreta in early pregnancy is an extremely rare but life-threatening complication, for which very few cases have been reported in the literature worldwide, none from the United States. We report a patient with two previous cesarean deliveries, who presented with incomplete abortion at 17 weeks and underwent dilatation and curettage. She was found to have retained, adherent placenta that led to extensive hemorrhage, requiring emergency supracervical hysterectomy. Postoperative course was also complicated by severe consumption coagulopathy, necessitating reexploration after hysterectomy. Pathology revealed a placenta percreta. Patient lost more than 8000 cc blood through the 2 surgeries, received massive transfusions due to severe disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), and underwent a complicated surgery because of great difficulty in separating lower uterine segment and cervix from the bladder. Abnormal placentation in early pregnancy has increased in prevalence due to marked rise in cesarean deliveries and curettages in recent decades. We reviewed all reported cases of first and second trimester placenta percreta in the literature, to emphasize the early recognition of abnormal placentations in patients with risk factors, consider prenatal evaluation in such patients, anticipate complicated placental implantations during termination procedures, and prevent associated maternal morbidity and mortality.

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.

Preservation of fertility following abnormally adherent placenta treated conservatively: a case report

INTRODUCTION

One of the ensuing complications of placenta accreta includes loss of fertility.

CASE PRESENTATION

An Asian origin Indian national patient with history of placenta accreta at the time of previous delivery and had conservative management with injection methotrexate after the failure of surgical intervention, conceives again and has uneventful antenatal period and parturition.

CONCLUSION

Conservative strategy of leaving the excessively adherent placenta in-situ alongwith adjuvant therapy in the form of injection methotrexate, not only prevents dreadful complications but also retains fertility in haemodynamically stable patients desirous of future pregnancy.

The role of interventional radiology in obstetric and gynaecology practice

Interventional radiology is continuing to reshape current practice in many specialties of clinical care. It is a relatively new and innovative branch of medicine in which physicians treat diseases non-operatively through small catheters guided to the target by fluoroscopic and other imaging modalities. The aim is to provide image-guided, minimally invasive alternatives to traditional surgical and medical procedures in suitable cohorts of patients. Procedures which previously required major surgery can now be performed by interventional radiologists, sometimes on an outpatient basis, with little patient discomfort. In this review, we highlight the importance of interventional radiology in treating a comprehensive range of obstetric and gynaecological pathologies.

A pregnant lady with intermittent vaginal bleeding (2007: 3b)

Placenta percreta is a potentially life-threatening complication of pregnancy, which is increasing in incidence. Ante-natal diagnosis with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging aids the obstetric team in planning further management. We present a case of placenta percreta with imaging and a brief review of the literature.

Conservative management of placenta increta with selective arterial embolization preserves future fertility and results in a favorable outcome in subsequent pregnancies

OBJECTIVE

To present a case of selective arterial embolization for the treatment of placenta increta in a patient with subsequent pregnancy.

DESIGN

Case report and literature review.

SETTING

Community-based hospital.

PATIENT(S)

A 31-year-old G2P1 woman with placenta increta presenting with delayed postpartum hemorrhage.

INTERVENTION(S)

Selective uterine artery embolization.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S)

Cessation of uterine hemorrhage, future pregnancy.

RESULT(S)

The patient's uterine bleeding immediately resolved. She subsequently delivered a healthy neonate at term without recurrence of abnormal placentation.

CONCLUSION(S)

Arterial embolization is effective for treating placenta increta in women who wish to preserve fertility. A review of the literature demonstrates a 76.9% success rate and an 11% complication rate.

Elective Non-Removal of the Placenta and Prophylactic Uterine Artery Embolization Postpartum as a Diagnostic Imaging Approach for the Management of Placenta Percreta: A Case Report

BACKGROUND

Placenta percreta, invasion of placental tissue through the uterine wall, is a rare but potentially fatal complication of pregnancy. Historically, the diagnosis was made at laparotomy, usually during Caesarean hysterectomy.

CASE

We describe a case of placenta percreta, in which the placenta was allowed to remain fixed to the uterine wall. Antenatal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging techniques were used to establish the diagnosis and guide clinical management. Elective postoperative uterine artery embolization down balloon catheters was used to prevent postpartum hemorrhage and to promote involution and shedding of the placenta. After 6 months, the uterus had involuted to the nonpregnant state.

CONCLUSION

New diagnostic imaging techniques may be used to guide conservative management of placenta percreta, thereby maintaining fertility and avoiding hemorrhage, blood transfusion, and hysterectomy.