Placenta Accreta Spectrum Program

Specialized, experienced care for placenta accreta, increta and percreta

The Texas Children’s Pavilion for Women Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) program offers pregnant women a proven resource for the management of a rare, potentially life-threatening condition. With risks that include massive blood loss and premature birth, women with placenta accreta spectrum require specialized care from an experienced team – one that is well equipped to respond to complex challenges during pregnancy and delivery.

A Rare Level of Expertise

Our maternal-fetal medicine physicians, specialists in the treatment of high-risk pregnancies, offer a rare level of expertise. In 2019 we treated 42 women with placenta accreta spectrum, a condition many OB/GYNs rarely encounter. With our proven experience and outcomes, we are a trusted resource for even the most challenging cases.

Proven Protocols and Outcomes

The serious risks posed by these pregnancies require protocols to be in place to immediately address emergencies when they arise. We are prepared and equipped 24/7 to address the needs of mother and baby, coordinating and mobilizing lifesaving resources that improve outcomes.

Mother and child benefit from:

• A multidisciplinary medical and surgical team experienced in managing PAS pregnancies and deliveries, setting our program apart. Our PAS health care team includes specialists from Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Anesthesiology, Transfusion Medicine, Urology, Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care, Neonatology, Interventional Radiology, Gynecologic Oncology, Pathology, Respiratory Therapy and Psychiatry, in addition to support groups, specialized nurses and support staff.
• Blood bank and transfusion medicine services with the blood products and expertise required to address serious bleeding problems.
• Immediate access to Texas Children’s level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for lifesaving interventions, should the baby need it.
• Delivery at a state-of-the-art center specializing in high-risk pregnancies, a proven success factor in PAS deliveries.
• Strategies to reduce blood loss whenever possible, with a focus on continual quality improvement.

Lifesaving Diagnostics

Placenta accreta spectrum typically causes few, if any, early symptoms, but the sooner the condition is diagnosed, the sooner plans can be put in place to minimize the risk of uncontrolled bleeding at delivery. We offer women early detection using the latest advancements in maternal and fetal imaging, including state-of-the-art ultrasound systems and MRI for selected cases. Our imaging team has extensive experience identifying at-risk patients and evaluating and treating placenta accreta spectrum.

A Carefully Planned Delivery

Delivery is carefully planned and timed. While treatment is determined on a case-by-case basis, our patients are typically delivered 4 to 5 weeks ahead of their due date to minimize the risk of hemorrhage and the impact of premature birth on the baby. In general, the safest approach is a planned cesarean delivery followed immediately by a hysterectomy. This definitive approach leaves the placenta untouched, reducing the potential for massive blood loss. In select cases, through conservative management, we are able to safely remove the placenta while sparing the uterus.

Leading the Way to Best Practices

We continue to advance the treatment of placenta accreta, increta and percreta. From groundbreaking research on minimizing blood loss during delivery, to participating in a national consortium of centers of excellence to establish best practices, we are dedicated to helping all women with PAS achieve the best possible outcome.