Retrospective cohort study of prophylactic intraoperative uterine artery embolization for abnormally invasive placenta

Objective To evaluate the safety and efficacy of prophylactic intraoperative uterine artery embolization (UAE) during cesarean delivery as conservative treatment for patients with abnormally invasive placenta. Methods A retrospective cohort study enrolled patients surgically diagnosed with abnormally invasive placenta who underwent cesarean delivery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China, between February 1, 2012, and February 28, 2015. Postpartum estimated blood loss, blood transfusions, hysterectomy, and adverse events were compared between patients who underwent cesarean delivery only (control group) and those who underwent concurrent prophylactic intraoperative UAE (UAE group). Results There were 45 patients included in the study; 26 and 19 in the UAE and control groups, respectively. Among patients who did not undergo hysterectomy owing to placenta accreta, the mean estimated blood loss was lower among patients in the UAE group (P=0.005); however, among patients who did undergo hysterectomy for placenta increta or percreta, no difference in mean estimated blood loss was observed (P=0.973). There were no differences in the hysterectomy rate (P=0.639) or incidence of requiring massive blood transfusion (P=0.050) between the groups. Only one patient in the UAE group experienced uterine necrosis. Conclusion Prophylactic intraoperative UAE was relatively safe and effective for reducing postpartum hemorrhage among patients with placenta accreta. The potential benefits could be lower among patients with placenta increta or percreta. Prophylactic intraoperative uterine artery embolization was effective in reducing postpartum hemorrhage and decreased hysterectomy rates among patients with placenta accreta.