Safer outcomes for placenta accreta spectrum disorders: A decade of quality improvement

To describe the evolution and evaluation of protocol-based multidisciplinary quality improvement (QI) in women undergoing cesarean hysterectomy for radiologically suspected and pathologically confirmed placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders.

A single-center, retrospective cohort study was conducted of all patients undergoing cesarean hysterectomy for PAS disorders between March 2009 and June 2018. Two distinct periods were defined to compare outcomes: 2009-2011 (initial period) and 2017-2018 (current period). Primary outcomes included blood loss and administration of blood products. Secondary outcomes included perioperative levels of hemoglobin, adverse events and complications, time to mobilization, and length of hospitalization.

Among the 105 consecutive patients identified, there were 26 in the initial period and 32 in the current period. With the implementation of all QI care bundles, median estimated surgical blood loss halved from 2000 ml in the initial period to 1000 ml in the current period, and fewer patients required allogenic blood transfusion (61.5% vs 25%). Patients in the current period demonstrated improved postoperative levels of hemoglobin compared to those in the initial period (101 g/L vs 89 g/L) and had a shorter median postoperative hospital stay (3 days vs 5 days).

These results support the implementation of a multifaceted QI and patient care initiative for women with PAS disorders.