Some kinds of placental disorders (placenta previa, accreta, increta, and percreta) happen when a woman’s placenta grows across the cervix or is attached too deeply to the uterine wall. Placenta accreta is the mildest of the three.
How are placental attachment disorders diagnosed?
A diagnosis is usually based on an ultrasound taken in the second or third trimester. Sometimes, a nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the pelvis is done.
How are placental attachment disorders typically treated?
Your care team may recommend that you have a surgery after delivery. Some cases may be severe enough that a hysterectomy may be needed. If a hysterectomy is done, the ovaries will usually be left intact.
How does a multidisciplinary approach help in treating placental attachment disorders?
When a problem with the placenta is diagnosed before delivery, a multidisciplinary approach can help prevent major complications at birth. When the diagnosis is made, a multidisciplinary patient conference is held among various specialists at Packard Children’s Hospital to develop a highly individualized delivery plan.
Who is on the care team at Packard Children’s Hospital when treating placental attachment disorders?
You and your baby may be cared for by a multidisciplinary team that consists of a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, gynecologist, obstetric anesthesiologist, neonatologist, and NICU team.
