Placenta percreta: a review of literature

Placenta percreta is a very rare but serious complication of pregnancy. Diagnosis is difficult. Uterine perforation and invasion into adjacent organs makes life threatening haemmorrhage inevitable. Management is usually based on intraoperative findings from case reports.

Literature on clinical decisions, diagnostic and treatment modalities were critically reviewed using PUBMED and MEDLINE computerized search. Additional Information was also obtained by cross referencing, texts and journals in the medical library of University of Nigeria.

Most of the literature was from developed countries with very little report from our environment. There was lack of comprehensive management plan in most textbooks.

Rare complications are usually very difficult to manage due to lack of experience. It is thus important to identify the patients at risk, attempt to make antenatal diagnosis and involve experienced obstetricians in management.