Placenta Acrreta

I. INTRODUCTION PLACENTA ACCRETA The abnormal adherence of the chorionic villi (vascular fingers of the chorion, a part of the placenta) to the myometrium (the muscle of the uterus). Normally, there is tissue intervening between the chorionic villi and the myometrium but in placenta accreta, these vascular processes of the chorion grow directly in the myometrium. Placenta accreta occurs when your placenta attaches too firmly to the inside wall of your uterus. This is a rare disorder, occurring in only 1 in 5000 pregnancies, and is associated with serious complications. There are three variants of placenta accreta: Placenta Accreta: occurs when the placenta attaches too deep in the uterine wall but it does not penetrate the uterine muscle. This is the most common accounting for approximately 75% of all cases.
Placenta Increta: occurs when the placenta attaches even deeper into the uterine wall and does penetrate into the uterine muscle. This accounts for approximately 15% of all cases.
Placenta Percreta: occurs when the placenta penetrates through the entire uterine wall and attaches to another organ such as the bladder. This is the least common of the three conditions accounting for approximately 5% of all cases.

Risk Factors for Placenta Accreta
You are at increased risk for placenta accreta if: * you have placenta previa (the placenta covers the cervix); * you have a history of cesarean section or other operations on the uterus; * your placenta is implanted over a scar in the uterus * you are over age 35; * you have been pregnant before; or * you have had your uterine lining scraped during dilation and curettage procedure. * Ruptured uterus that cause scar

Complications of Placenta Accreta

Placenta accreta is connected with severe complications. Because the placenta is so firmly attached to the uterus, it can make it difficult for you to deliver the placenta after you have given birth. It is possible that