Management of placenta accreta: morbidity and outcome.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate our results in the management of placenta accreta.

Study Design: In a retrospective study we reviewed cases of placenta accreta diagnosed in two university teaching hospitals between 1993 and 2003. For a subgroup of patients a conservative approach was attempted. In this procedure placenta was left in place until spontaneous resorption.

Results: Fifty cases (0.12%) of placenta accreta were observed in 41, 119 deliveries during the study period. Of the 50 cases, 24 patients (48%) were managed by the standard approach and 26 patients (52%) underwent conservative treatment. Additional surgical or medical treatment was performed in 35 of the 50 patients (70%). There was no maternal death. Overall hysterectomy rate was 40%, 10 patients were transferred to intensive care unit (20%), 7 had fever (14%), 5 had endometritis (10%) and 19 patients had blood transfusion (38%). Conservative treatment did not lead to hysterectomy in 21 cases (80.7%) and failed in 5 (19.3%). During the follow-up period, 3 women had successful pregnancy.

Conclusion: Analysis of management of placenta accreta shows that for a subgroup of selected patients a conservative approach could preserve subsequent fertility without evident increase in morbidity.