Uterine Artery Embolization Increases Delivery Safety in Parturient Women with Placenta Accreta

Placenta accreta (PC) is one of the reasons causing hemorrhaging in parturient women during the delivery process. Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is usually treated by applying uterine contraction agents or, in extreme cases, hysterectomy, which results in loss of reproductivity. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the best way to diagnose PC and provides important information regarding the grade of abnormal placental attachment and the twisted blood vessels prior to cesarean section. In the present study, the aim was to preserve the uterus and reduce the amount of bleeding in parturient women with PC by intraoperative uterine artery embolization (UAE). In total, 27 parturient women were treated in the operating room equipped with a portable X-ray machine. Of these women, 24 experimental cases received intraoperative UAE, and UAE was applied to 3 control cases after PPH. The t test for independent samples was used for statistical analysis. The results showed that intraoperative UAE reduced PPH and significantly diminished the likelihood of uterine removal (P < 0.05).