An obstetric-specific surgical Apgar score predicts maternal morbidity from cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum.

OBJECTIVE: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a continuum of placental conditions characterized by significant maternal and neonatal morbidity. Tools to accurately predict postoperative morbidity have been lacking due to the hemodynamic changes of pregnancy. The surgical Apgar score (SAS) is a 10-point scale that assesses heart rate, mean arterial pressure, and estimated blood loss. The SAS has been validated to predict morbidity such as blood transfusion and reoperation. METHODS: We created an obstetric-specific SAS (ObSAS) scale for physiologic changes of pregnancy (two-fold increase in blood loss, 10% increased heart rate, and 5% decreased mean arterial pressure) and analyzed 110 cases of PAS who underwent cesarean hysterectomy. RESULTS: An ObSAS of 0-4 (poorest score) was significantly associated with increased risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission (odds ratio [OR] 40.6, 95% confidence interval [CI] 7.9-742.9), transfusion >4 units (26/26 patients), and greater surgical morbidity (OR 22.7, 95% CI 4.4-415.0). ObSAS of 9-10 resulted in no ICU admissions (0/12), fewer blood transfusions (OR 0.1, 95% CI 0.1-0.4). and less surgical morbidity (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.01-0.37). CONCLUSION: Given the overall surgical morbidity associated with PAS cesarean hysterectomy, the ObSAS score is a powerful tool with excellent predictive capabilities for ICU admission, blood transfusion, and surgical morbidity, allowing for resource allocation, prophylactic interventions, and optimal patient outcomes.

Impact of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) pathology on neonatal respiratory outcomes in cesarean hysterectomies.

OBJECTIVE: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a continuum of disorders characterized by the pathologically adherent placenta to the uterine myometrium. Delivery by cesarean hysterectomy at 34-36 weeks is recommended to mitigate the risks of maternal morbidity. Iatrogenic preterm delivery, has potential neonatal implications; late preterm infants are at risk for significant respiratory morbidity. Neonatal outcomes in PAS neonates are not well described in the literature, we aimed to investigate these outcomes. METHODS: A case-control study was performed with 107 cases of pathology-confirmed PAS patients with singleton, non-anomalous, viable pregnancies, compared to 76 cases of placenta previa with prior cesarean section who underwent repeat cesarean section. All patients were delivered through our institution's Placenta Accreta Program from 2005 to 2020. Rates of neonatal respiratory morbidity and related outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Maternal characteristics and antenatal complications were similar between groups, as were gestational age, steroid exposure, and emergent delivery. PAS was associated with increased use of general anesthesia (20 vs. 54%, p = .001), larger estimated blood loss (1875 vs. 6077 ml, p = .008), and longer post-operative stays (4.8 vs. 7.3 days, p = .01). PAS was also associated with neonatal increased rates of high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) (41 vs. 58%, p = .02), intubation (17 vs. 37%, p = .008), and duration of respiratory support (0 vs. 2 days, p = .03). There were no differences in rates of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)/positive pressure ventilation (PPV) (21 vs. 22%, p = .85), anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, or NICU length of stay. Multivariate analysis adjusting for general anesthesia demonstrated this variable confounded the impact of PAS pathology in respiratory outcomes the risk of the respiratory composite (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.57, 95% CI [0.11, 2.82]), use of HFNC (aOR 0.33, 95% CI [0.08-1.48]), and intubation (aOR 1.29, 95% CI [0.25-6.75]), were no longer significant. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, we conclude that PAS neonates have higher rates of respiratory morbidity and that general anesthesia is a significant contributor to these respiratory outcomes. This is important for the antenatal counseling of cases of PAS, especially if general anesthesia is anticipated or requested. Furthermore, it supports efforts to limit general anesthesia exposure of neonates when necessary.

Effect of anesthesia selection on neonatal outcomes in cesarean hysterectomies for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS).

OBJECTIVES: Optimal treatment for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is late-preterm cesarean hysterectomy to minimize maternal morbidity. This study aims to assess the impact of surgical planning during this gestational age on neonates as a key part of the pregnancy dyad. METHODS: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed of 115 singleton, non-anomalous pregnancies complicated by PAS at the University of Texas Health San Antonio Placenta Accreta program from 2005 to 2020. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the individual impact of variables such as anesthesia selection, advancing gestational age and operative characteristics. RESULTS: With regards to neonatal intubation, on multivariate analysis, neuraxial anesthesia (OR=0.09, [95% CI 0.02, 0.37]) and advancing gestational age (OR=0.49 [95% CI 0.34, 0.71]) were independent protective factors. In addition, NICU length of stay was directly impacted by neuraxial anesthesia (IRR=0.73, [95% CI 0.55, 0.97]) and advancing gestational age (IRR=0.80 [95% CI 0.76, 0.84]), resulting in shorter NICU admissions. CONCLUSIONS: As gestational age at delivery may not be modifiable in cases of PAS, the utilization of neuraxial anesthesia (as oppose to general anesthesia) presents a modifiable intervention which may optimize neonatal outcomes from cesarean hysterectomy.

Neuraxial to general anesthesia conversion has equitable intraoperative and improved post-operative outcomes compared to general anesthesia in cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta spectrum (PAS).

OBJECTIVE: Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) represents a series of placental disorders with an estimated incidence of 1:1000. Delivery and subsequent cesarean hysterectomy for PAS is associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality. Neuraxial anesthesia may be utilized initially with subsequent conversion to general anesthesia after delivery of the fetus as an alternative to initiating with general anesthesia. METHODS: We performed a case-control study and analyzed 85 cases of pathology-confirmed PAS patients who underwent a cesarean hysterectomy in singleton, non-anomalous, viable pregnancies. All patients were delivered at our institution's established Placenta Accreta Program from 2005 to 2020. RESULTS: Fifty-two (61%) patients underwent general anesthesia and 33 (39%) patients underwent neuraxial anesthesia (collectively spinal, epidural, and combined spinal-epidural) converted to general anesthesia after cesarean delivery. Baseline demographics between groups were similar. Pre-operative ASA airway assessment of III/IV was equivalent between groups (94 and 82%, p = .08). Intraoperatively, neuraxial conversion and general anesthesia were equal with respect to operative time (241 vs. 261 min, p = .47), estimated blood loss (6039 vs. 8134 mL, p = .51), and composite maternal morbidity (84.6 vs. 75.8%, p = .40). Post-operatively, ICU admission (47 vs. 46%, p = 1.0) and intensive care length of stay was equivalent (p = .07), yet the total post-operative length of stay was significantly reduced in patients who underwent neuraxial anesthesia (3.76 vs. 6.35 days, p = .02). In addition, while general anesthesia was associated with a greater sonographic suspicion for placenta percreta (40 vs. 12%, p = .007), final pathology was equivalent (52 vs. 60%, p = .5). CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, our data show neuraxial conversion to general anesthesia has equivalent intra-operative parameters with improved post-operative outcomes when compared to general anesthesia alone in the case of cesarean hysterectomy for Placenta Accreta Spectrum disorders.