Anesthesia for Cesarean Section in Parturients with Abnormal Placentation: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction Placental invasion anomalies are associated with high mortality and may require hysterectomy due to the high risk of massive hemorrhage. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate intraoperative anesthetic management, postoperative follow-up, clinical features, and fetal wellbeing in patients undergoing cesarean section due to placental invasion anomalies in a tertiary health center. Methods The retrospective study included patients that underwent cesarean section due to placental invasion anomalies at a tertiary health center over the period between 2013 and 2018. Intraoperative anesthetic management, blood and blood products transfusion, and total volume of blood loss, as well as neonatal Apgar score and postoperative intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up, were reviewed for each patient. Results The study evaluated a total of 92 patients that underwent cesarean section due to placental invasion anomalies, including 49 patients with placenta previa, 42 patients with placenta percreta, and one patient with placenta accreta. Of the 92 patients, 59 (64.1%) patients underwent general anesthesia, 31 (33.7%) underwent spinal anesthesia, and two (2.2%) underwent spinal anesthesia followed by general anesthesia. Hysterectomy was performed in four patients, including three patients who underwent general anesthesia and one patient who started with spinal anesthesia and subsequently switched to general anesthesia prior to a hysterectomy. The Apgar scores at min 1 and min 5 after the induction of anesthesia were significantly lower in patients who underwent general anesthesia as compared to those who underwent spinal anesthesia (p=0.002 and p=0.007, respectively). The duration of surgery and intraoperative blood loss were significantly higher in patients with placenta percreta as compared to other patients (p<0.001 for both). Conclusion In surgical planning for the patients with placental invasion anomalies, care should be taken by anesthesiologists to select the most ideal anesthetic technique, by taking into account the type of anomaly, probable volume of blood loss, and surgical complications, to ensure both maternal and fetal wellbeing. Moreover, the coordination of a team of well-educated and experienced staff is essential.