Bahaa E. Daoud

Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) disorders, including placenta accreta, increta, and percreta, are serious obstetric conditions characterized by abnormal placental adherence to the uterine wall. With increasing incidence, PAS poses significant risks, primarily through massive hemorrhage during or after delivery, often necessitating hysterectomy. Key risk factors include prior cesarean sections, uterine surgery, and placenta previa diagnosis. In this review, we will examine the pathophysiology of PAS, with a focus on the mechanisms underlying abnormal trophoblast invasion and defective decidualization. We will highlight the role of uterine scarring, extracellular matrix remodeling, dysregulated signaling pathways, and immune and vascular alterations in disrupting the maternal-fetal interface, ultimately predisposing to morbid placentation and delivery complications. We will also discuss the life-threatening complications of PAS, such as shock and multi-organ failure, which require urgent multidisciplinary intensive care, as well as the optimization of management through preoperative planning and intraoperative blood loss control to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Anesthetic management of the pregnant patient undergoing non-obstetric surgery requires careful consideration of both maternal and fetal well-being. Key factors include appropriate drug selection to minimize fetal exposure, maintenance of uteroplacental perfusion, and management of physiological changes associated with pregnancy, such as altered respiratory function and increased blood volume. Regional anesthesia is often preferred to reduce the risks of general anesthesia, although considerations such as positioning, airway management, and monitoring are crucial. Multidisciplinary collaboration is essential to optimize outcomes, ensuring that both maternal health and fetal safety are prioritized throughout the perioperative period.