Feasibility and safety of prophylactic uterine artery catheterization and embolization in the management of placenta accreta.

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of prophylactic uterine artery catheterization and embolization in the management of placenta accreta (PA).

Materials And Methods: Retrospective chart review was performed of 95 consecutive patients with prenatal suspicion of PA managed in a 10-year period with a strategy that included prophylactic bilateral uterine artery catheterization, delivery of the baby, uterine artery embolization if indicated, and subsequent surgery. Feasibility was defined as catheterization being possible to perform, technical success as embolization being possible when indicated and complete stasis of the vessels achieved, and clinical success as no maternal death or major blood loss. Median gestational age at delivery was 36 weeks (interquartile range, 24-39 wk).

Results: PA was confirmed in 79 patients (83%). Feasibility was 97% (92 of 95); in three cases (3%), acute early massive hemorrhage forced emergency delivery without catheterization. Embolization was performed in 83 of 92 patients (87%) to the extent of complete stasis; in the remaining nine, it was unnecessary because spontaneous placental detachment was visualized after fetal delivery (technical success rate, 100%). There were several complications, including bleeding requiring blood transfusion (49%) and bladder surgery (37%), but there were no major complications attributable to the endovascular procedures. There was one minor complication presumably related to embolization (transient paresthesia and decreased temperature of lower limb), with uneventful follow-up. Clinical success rate was 86%, with no maternal deaths, but 14% of patients received large-volume blood transfusion.

Conclusions: Prophylactic uterine artery catheterization and embolization in the management of PA appeared to be feasible and safe in this consecutive series of patients.