Management of pregnancies complicated by placenta accreta spectrum utilizing a multidisciplinary care team in a rural state

Abstract

Purpose

To compare maternal and neonatal outcomes following the development of a multidisciplinary care team for the management of pregnancies complicated by placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) in a rural state.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study evaluating pregnancies managed before PAS team care management formation (2010–2015) and after (2016–2020) in a university medical center. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were analyzed. Patients were grouped by delivery date to either before or after dedicated PAS team formation. Maternal and neonatal outcomes were analyzed. Frequencies and percentages were reported for categorical measures while means and standard deviations were computed for continuous measures. Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for continuous variables while Chi-square or Fisher’s exact was used for categorical measures.

Findings

There were 82 patients with PAS managed at our institution (29 in Pre-PAS team group and 53 in Post-PAS team group). The number of units of packed red blood cells (PRBCS) transfused intraoperatively was significantly higher in the Pre-PAS care team group (6.52 vs. 3.26, p = .0057). The total number of units PRBCS transfused (9.93 vs. 3.51, p = .0014) and total number of cryoprecipitate transfused (0.77 vs. 0.08, p = .0225) during the entire hospital stay were increased in the Pre-PAS team group. Median neonatal 1 min and 5 min APGAR scores were lower in the Pre-PAS care team group (2 vs 6 at 1 min, p = .0035; 6 vs. 7at 5 min, p = .0301).

Conclusions

Management of PAS by a dedicated, multidisciplinary team results in less blood transfusion requirements and improved maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Keywords:

• Placenta accreta spectrum
• management
• cesarean hysterectomy
• multidisciplinary approach

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Donna Eastham, BA, CRS for her assistance in editing, formatting and submitting this manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors have nothing to disclose.