Is Your Unit Prepared for an Undiagnosed Placenta Percreta?

Abstract

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a rare and serious obstetric complication. Mandatory interdisciplinary simulations and strategically selected annual competencies proved to be a proactive lifesaving countermeasure in caring for a patient with an undiagnosed placenta percreta at a fetal center in a children’s hospital. As a low-volume labor and delivery unit, we conduct numerous mandatory annual simulations, to include interdisciplinary and interdepartmental massive transfusion drills, emergent transfer of patient to higher level of care at adjacent adult facility, cystoscopy and bladder irrigation, emergency hysterectomy, and maternal code. Every year, staff fills out a needs assessment and selects their preferred high-acuity, low-volume annual competencies, such as proficiency with the rapid volume infuser, initiation of massive transfusion protocol, and quantitative blood loss (QBL).