Conservative management of placenta accreta: review of three cases

Tong SYP, Tay KH, Kwek YCK
Correspondence: Dr Pearl Tong SY, pearltong80@yahoo.com.sg

ABSTRACT
Placenta accreta occurs when the placenta is abnormally adherent to the uterus, often resulting in complications in the peripartum period such as severe haemorrhage, a possible need for caesarean hysterectomy, and even severe injuries to pelvic organs. There has been a gradual shift towards conservative management of placenta accreta, involving uterine and placental conservation, with the main aim being to reduce pelvic injury and haemostasis with the aid of intervention radiology by means of insertion of occluding balloons into the internal iliac arteries. This strategy has previously been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality in carefully selected cases of placenta accreta. We review three cases of successful uterine conservation performed in our institution.

Keywords: balloon occlusion, placenta accreta, placenta increta, placenta percreta, placental conservation, placental diseases
Singapore Med J 2008; 49(6): e156-e159