Subsequent pregnancy outcomes and risk factors following conservative treatment for placenta accreta spectrum: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Placenta accreta spectrum can lead to uncontrollable massive hemorrhage in the perinatal period. Currently, the first-line treatment for placenta accreta spectrum recommended worldwide is hysterectomy. However, adverse outcomes after hysterectomy, including surgical complications, such as difficulty in performing the procedure, and sequelae, such as infertility and psychological issues, cannot be ignored. Several surgical approaches for conservative treatment have been proposed. There are few reports on the effectiveness, safety, and long-term complications of conservative treatments, especially subsequent pregnancy outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the clinical outcomes and identify risk factors of subsequent pregnancies among patients with placenta accreta spectrum who had undergone conservative surgery. This was a retrospective cohort study of subsequent pregnancy cases after cesarean delivery with conservative treatment for placenta accreta spectrum from 2011 to 2019 at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University to identify clinical outcomes of subsequent pregnancies and the risk factors of adverse pregnancy outcomes. A total of 883 patients undergoing conservative surgery were included in this study, among which 604 (68.4%) were successfully followed up. There were 75 successful pregnancies in 72 patients, including 22 full-term or near-term deliveries, 1 induced labor in the second trimester of pregnancy, 6 cesarean scar pregnancies (8.0%), 2 ectopic pregnancies, and 44 first-trimester pregnancies (3 miscarriages and 41 elective abortions and 12 medical abortions and 32 vacuum aspirations). All newborns survived in the 22 full-term or near-term deliveries. Moreover, 5 placenta accreta spectrum cases (22.7%) and 6 placenta previa cases were observed. Postpartum hemorrhage was observed in 2 cases, with an incidence rate of 9.1%. All parameters, including age at subsequent pregnancy, gravidity, number of cesarean deliveries, type of previous placenta accreta spectrum, gestational week of pregnancy termination, interpregnancy interval, and the use of vascular occlusion techniques, were not found to be associated with recurrent placenta accreta spectrum and cesarean scar pregnancy. Our findings show that treatment for placenta accreta spectrum does not automatically preclude a subsequent pregnancy. However, patients should be fully informed about the risk of recurrent placenta accreta spectrum, scar pregnancy, and postpartum hemorrhage.