Placenta percreta in a booked multiparous woman with minimal risk factors and challenges of management in a low resource setting

• Published in: Nigerian journal of medicine Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 359 - 360
• Main Authors: Ajah, L O, Eze, M I, Dim, C C, Ezegwui, H U, Nkwo, P O, Eluke, C C, Okoro, O S, Dinwoke, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nigeria 01-07-2012
• Subjects: Cesarean Section; Developing Countries; Female; Humans; Hysterectomy; Labor Presentation; Nigeria; Parity; Placenta Accreta - surgery; Pregnancy; Nigeria
• ISSN: 1115-2613

Retained placenta membranes and tissue are responsible for 5% to 10% of postpartum hemorrhage. Placenta accreta occurs in approximately 1 in 2500 pregnancies of which placenta percreta constitutes about 5% of placenta accreta. This portends the rarity of placenta percreta especially in a 32 year old woman with minimal risk factors. Our patient was a G4P3(+0) woman with 2 living male children who presented at 39 weeks plus 2 days gestation in latent phase of labour and transverse lie. She had emergency caesarean hysterectomy due to primary postpartum haemorrhage secondary to placenta percreta. There should be a high index of suspicion of placenta percreta in women with the risk factors and whoever does caesarean section should have the skills for hysterectomy in case of any encounter with placenta percreta not amenable to conservative management.