Damage-Control Surgery for Maternal Near-Miss Cases of Placenta Previa and Placenta Accreta Spectrum

There is paucity of reports on damage control surgery use in near-miss cases associated with placenta previa, and placenta accreta spectrum. The objective is to report the outcome of damage control surgery for the obstetrical hemorrhage in near-miss cases of placenta previa and placenta accreta spectrum.

The records of all women who had damage control surgery defined as abdominopelvic packing, followed by a period of medical stabilization in the intensive care unit for near-miss placenta previa and placenta accreta spectrum at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between November 1, 2007, and March 1, 2020, were identified and reviewed.

During the study period, seven women met the inclusion criteria. There were three women with placenta previa, three women with placenta previa accreta, and one woman with placenta accreta. Five women had cesarean section followed by laparotomy, hysterectomy, and damage control surgery, one woman had a cesarean hysterectomy and damage control surgery, and one woman had hysterectomy and damage control surgery. Estimated "near-miss" intraoperative bleeding ranged from 2 to 7 liters for the seven women (median 5 L; IQR 3.5, 6), which was managed by massive blood transfusion. Complications included disseminated intravascular coagulation (3 women), intestinal obstruction (1 woman), acute renal failure (1 woman), and vesicovaginal fistula (1 woman). Hospital stay ranged from 8 to 44 days (median 37; IQR 21, 39).

Damage control surgery can be life-saving. It should be in the armamentarium of the health care providers managing women with placenta previa, and placenta accreta spectrum.