Effectiveness of ultrasound screening for placenta accreta spectrum using standard ultrasound criteria in a secondary care setting

Author(s):  
Miquel Juan-Clar ◽  
Marta Torrent ◽  
Pere Santandreu ◽  
Eva Arejola ◽  
Javier Ibarra ◽  
...  

Objectives: Ultrasound detection of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) among women at risk is a key goal to reduce obstetric morbidity, but there is scarce information of its performance in real clinical settings. We report the effectiveness of a standardized ultrasound protocol to detect PAS in women with placenta previa in a secondary-level hospital. Methods: A retrospective analysis, including a cohort of 126 women with persistent placenta previa among 27,975 pregnancies between 2008 and 2020. All 126 women underwent standardized transabdominal and transvaginal ultrasound assessing 5 criteria: 1) loss of hypoechoic retroplacental zone and/or myometrial thinning <1 mm; 2) lacunar images with flow >15 cm/sec; 3) thick and bulging placenta; 4) thinning or interruption of the uterine-bladder serous interface; and 5) placental or uterovesical hypervascularity. The presence of at least one criterion was considered a high-risk for PAS. Diagnosis of PAS was confirmed during caesarean section and by histopathological analysis. Results: Among 126 women with placenta previa, 11 (8.7%) cases of PAS were diagnosed, of which 10 were detected prenatally by ultrasound. This resulted in a sensitivity of 90,9%, a specificity of 98,3%, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 83,3%, and negative predictive value (NPV) of 99,1%. Histopathological assessment showed six placenta increta (54.5%), four percreta (36.4%) and one accreta (9.1%). All 10 cases of invasive placenta presented more than three ultrasound criteria. Conclusions: Standardized ultrasound screening protocol in women at risk due to placenta previa in the third trimester was highly effective in detecting PAS in a secondary-level hospital setting.

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Miriam Sutera ◽  
Anna Garofalo ◽  
Eleonora Pilloni ◽  
Silvia Parisi ◽  
Maria Grazia Alemanno ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives Evaluate ultrasound diagnostic accuracy, maternal−fetal characteristics and outcomes in case of vasa previa diagnosed antenatally, postnatally or with spontaneous resolution before delivery. Methods Monocentric retrospective study enrolling women with antenatal or postnatal diagnosis of vasa previa at Sant’Anna Hospital in Turin from 2007 to 2018. Vasa previa were defined as fetal vessels that lay 2 cm within the uterine internal os using 2D and Color Doppler transvaginal ultrasound. Diagnosis was confirmed at delivery and on histopathological exam. Vasa previa with spontaneous resolutions were defined as fetal vessels that migrate >2 cm from uterine internal os during scheduled ultrasound follow-ups in pregnancy. Results We enrolled 29 patients (incidence of 0.03%). Ultrasound antenatally diagnosed 25 vasa previa (five had a spontaneous resolution) while four were diagnosed postnatally, with an overall sensitivity of 96.2%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 96.2%, and negative predictive value of 100%. Early gestational age at diagnosis is significally associate with spontaneously resolution (p 0.023; aOR 1.63; 95% IC 1.18–2.89). Nearly 93% of our patient had a risk factor for vasa previa: placenta previa at second trimester or low-lying placenta, bilobated placenta, succenturiate cotyledon, velametous cord insertion or assisted reproduction technologies. Conclusions Maternal and fetal outcomes in case of vasa previa antenatally diagnosed are significally improved. Our data support the evaluation of umbilical cord insertion during routine second trimester ultrasound and a targeted screening for vasa previa in women with risk factor: it allows identification of fetus at high risk, reducing fetal mortality in otherwise healthy newborns.


2021 ◽  
Vol 81 (09) ◽  
pp. 1055-1064
Author(s):  
Johannes Stubert ◽  
Kathleen Gründler ◽  
Bernd Gerber ◽  
Dagmar-Ulrike Richter ◽  
Max Dieterich

Abstract Introduction Thrombospondin 1, desmoplakin and stratifin are putative biomarkers for the prediction of preterm birth. This study aimed to validate the predictive capability of these biomarkers in patients at risk of preterm birth. Materials and Methods We included 109 women with symptoms of threatened spontaneous preterm birth between weeks 20 0/7 and 31 6/7 of gestation. Inclusion criteria were uterine contractions, cervical length of less than 25 mm, or a personal history of spontaneous preterm birth. Multiple gestations were also included. Samples of cervicovaginal fluid were taken before performing a digital examination and transvaginal ultrasound. Levels of cervicovaginal thrombospondin 1, desmoplakin and stratifin were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The primary endpoint was spontaneous preterm birth before 34 + 0 weeks of gestation. Results Sixteen women (14.7%) delivered before 34 + 0 weeks. Median levels of thrombospondin 1 were higher in samples where birth occurred before 34 weeks vs. ≥ 34 weeks of gestation (4904 vs. 469 pg/mL, p < 0.001). Receiver operator characteristics analysis resulted in an area under the curve of 0.86 (p < 0.0001). At an optimal cut-off value of 2163 pg/mL, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 0.94, 0.77, 0.42 and 0.99, respectively, with an adjusted odds ratio of 32.9 (95% CI: 3.1 – 345, p = 0.004). Multiple gestation, cervical length, and preterm labor had no impact on the results. Survival analysis revealed a predictive period of more than eight weeks. Levels of desmoplakin and stratifin did not differ between groups. Conclusion Thrombospondin 1 allowed long-term risk estimation of spontaneous preterm birth.


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 266
Author(s):  
Margarida Cal ◽  
Carla Nunes ◽  
Nuno Clode ◽  
Diogo Ayres-de-Campos

Introduction: Placenta accreta spectrum disorders are among the leading causes of maternal morbidity and mortality and their prevalence is likely to increase in the future. The risk of placenta accreta spectrum disorders is highest in cases of placenta previa overlying a previous cesarean section scar. Few studies have evaluated placenta accreta spectrum disorders in Portugal. The aim of this study was to review the cases of placenta accreta spectrum overlying a cesarean section scar managed in a Portuguese tertiary center over the last decade.Material and Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional study, with data collected from hospital databases. Only cases with histopathological confirmation of placenta accreta spectrum were included.Results: During the study period, 15 cases of placenta accreta spectrum overlying a cesarean section scar were diagnosed (prevalence 0.6/1000). All cases were diagnosed antenatally. A transverse cesarean section was present in all cases; 13 were managed by a scheduled multidisciplinary approach, while two required emergent management. Total or subtotal hysterectomy was performed in 12 cases. There were no cases of maternal or neonatal death. Histopathological evaluation confirmed nine cases of placenta accreta, three cases of placenta increta and three cases of placenta percreta.Discussion: Early antenatal diagnosis is important for a programmed multidisciplinary management of these cases, which may reduce potential morbidity and mortality and ensure better obstetric outcomes.Conclusion: This case series of placenta accreta spectrum overlying a cesarean section scar reports the reality of a tertiary-care perinatal center in Portugal, in which no maternal or neonatal mortality due to placenta accreta spectrum was registered over the last decade; this may be attributed to prenatal diagnosis and a coordinated multidisciplinary team approach.


2021 ◽  
pp. 24-25

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) refers to the range of pathologic adherence of the placenta, including placenta increta, placenta percreta, and placenta accreta. PAS disorder is a maternal and fetal life-threatening situation due to the high risk of intrapartum uncontrollable bleeding. The common described risk factors are the placenta previa and history of Caesarean section (CS) [1]. We herein report our experience with five patients referred to our department for suspected PAS. These patient were selected for targeted prepartum ultrasound assessment due to their history of multiple C-sections. PAS risk increase with the number of previous CS and could reach7% [2]. In Nicaragua , the rate of c-section in obstetrical practice is still high and approximating 40% in some centers. Uterine wall dehiscence result in locally defective decidualisation and abnormal placental adherence with important trophoblastic invasion in a subsequent pregnancy [3]. We still believe that this disorder is preventable if we “go back” a little to obstetrical good practices. Dramatic situations can be avoided by selecting suspected PAS on ultrasound or MRI to be referred. PAS is the commonest cause of intrapartum hysterectomy and must be managed always in specialized centers with multidisciplinary team approach.


2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilia Cavalli ◽  
Claudia Maggi ◽  
Sebastiana Gambarini ◽  
Anna Fichera ◽  
Amerigo Santoro ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives We aimed to assess the performance of ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signs for antenatal detection of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders in women with placenta previa (placental edge ≤2 cm from the internal uterine orifice, ≥260/7 weeks’ gestation) with and without a history of previous Caesarean section. Methods Single center prospective observational study. US suspicion of PAS was raised in the presence of obliteration of the hypoechoic space between uterus and placenta, interruption of the hyperechoic uterine-bladder interface and/or turbulent placental lacunae on color Doppler. All MRI studies were blindly evaluated by a single operator. PAS was defined as clinically significant when histopathological diagnosis was associated with at least one of: intrauterine balloon placement, compressive uterine sutures, peripartum hysterectomy, uterine or hypogastric artery ligature, uterine artery embolization. Results A total of 39 women were included: 7/39 had clinically significant PAS. There were 6/18 cases of PAS with anterior placenta: hypoechoic space interruption and placental lacunae were the most sensitive sonographic signs (83%), while abnormal hyperechoic interface was the most specific (83%). On MRI, focal myometrial interruption and T2 intraplacental dark bands showed the best sensitivity (83%), bladder tenting had the best specificity (100%). 1/21 women with posterior placenta had PAS. There was substantial agreement between US and MRI in patients with anterior placenta (κ=0.78). Conclusions US and MRI agreement in antenatal diagnosis of clinically significant PAS was maximal in high-risk women. Placental lacunae on ultrasound scan and T2 intraplacental hypointense bands on MRI should trigger the suspicion of PAS.


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