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Obstet Gynecol Sci > Volume 68(4); 2025 > Article
Atjimakul, Nanthamongkolkul, Jiamset, Suphasynth, Pichatechaiyoot, Thiangphak, Pongpanich, and Rattanaburi: Bleeding control and posterior vaginal fornix approach for cesarean hysterectomy in placenta accreta spectrum

Abstract

Objective

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a leading cause of massive obstetric hemorrhage, particularly when the placenta is removed or unintentionally disrupted during cesarean hysterectomy. In this video, we demonstrate an alternative surgical approach via the posterior vaginal fornix for performing cesarean hysterectomy in patients with PAS.

Methods

A cesarean hysterectomy for a case of placenta percreta was performed using the posterior vaginal fornix approach. This technique focuses on avoiding bleeding due to placental disruption and preventing urinary bladder injury.

Results

We summarize the steps of the procedure, including ligation of the vascular pedicles, entry into the retroperitoneal space to identify vital structures and control bleeding, dissection along avascular plane to delineate organ borders, and posterior culdotomy followed by en bloc uterine amputation to avoid urinary bladder injury and minimize blood loss.

Conclusion

The posterior vaginal fornix approach for cesarean hysterectomy in patients with PAS is an effective technique for minimizing bleeding from the highly vascular placental area. Additionally, it offers the advantage of reducing the risk of unintentional urinary bladder injury, thereby improving surgical outcomes in these challenging cases.

Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is a major cause of massive obstetric hemorrhage, characterized by excessive penetration of placental trophoblasts into or through the myometrium. The incidence of PAS has dramatically increased in recent years owing to the rising rate of cesarean sections worldwide [1]. At our institution, the incidence of PAS has increased from 20 per 10,000 deliveries in 2008 to 62 per 10,000 deliveries in 2018. Primary cesarean hysterectomy remains an essential surgical procedure for PAS management, particularly in low- to middle-income countries during emergencies. To reduce life-threatening obstetric hemorrhage during emergency surgery for PAS, we have found that scheduling cesarean hysterectomy at 36 weeks of gestation is optimal [2]. In 2016, we established a multidisciplinary care team (MCT) focusing on proper management from the antepartum to the postpartum period for pregnant women with PAS. This approach significantly reduces the estimated blood loss and volume of red blood cell transfusions. Additionally, maternal and newborn hospitalizations and intensive care unit admissions were significantly shorter than before the establishment of the MCT [3]. A key factor in the success of our MCT is the surgical technique used for cesarean hysterectomy (Fig. 1). We modified the conventional approach to a posterior vaginal fornix approach to control bleeding and avoid unnecessary injury to the adjacent organs. The posterior approach has been described as an alternative to cesarean hysterectomy when the anterior plane of the uterus is obscured by a bulging placenta [4]. This technique reduced the incidence of adjacent organ injury associated with PAS cesarean hysterectomy from 31.25% to 10% [5]. In this educational video, we summarize the surgical techniques used to minimize bleeding and avoid unintentional urinary bladder injury during cesarean hysterectomy for PAS.
The surgical procedure was initiated with a midline skin incision, followed by a vertical incision at the uterine fundus to facilitate fetal delivery. The placenta was intentionally left in situ and hemostasis at the uterine incision site was achieved using continuous running sutures. The round ligament was then transected to separate the vascular pedicle from the ovarian ligament, after which the ovarian vessels were ligated. Subsequently, the retroperitoneal space was developed to identify the ureters and allow for ligation of the hypogastric vessels.
Dissection of the vesicouterine space was performed cautiously from the lateral aspect to reduce the risk of injury associated with prior surgical scar adhesions and to minimize bleeding from the placenta and the venous plexus of the urinary bladder. Hemostasis of the bilateral ascending uterine vessels was secured prior to proceeding with uterine amputation. A posterior culdotomy was executed at the level of the cervix to avoid excessive bleeding from the highly vascular anterior uterine region.
Both lateral vaginal cuffs were then incised, followed by careful dissection of the anterior vaginal fornix to define the anatomical plane between the uterus and the prior surgical scar or urinary bladder. Finally, the procedure concluded with closure of the vaginal cuff.
This procedure requires obstetricians with expertise in pelvic anatomy, particularly the relationships between the uterus and adjacent structures, such as retroperitoneal organs. Collaboration with gynecologic oncologists experienced in radical hysterectomy techniques can further reduce the risk of complications such as ureteric injury. Preoperative placement of ureteric stents is also recommended to enhance intraoperative identification of ureters, especially in complex cases. In emergency situations involving massive hemorrhage, additional measures such as manual aortic compression or the use of aortic clamps can significantly reduce blood loss during hysterectomy. These strategies are particularly valuable in resource-limited settings, where the timely management of hemorrhage is critical for maternal survival.
In conclusion, the posterior vaginal fornix approach for cesarean hysterectomy in patients with PAS is an effective technique for minimizing bleeding from the highly vascular placental area. Additionally, it offers the advantage of reducing the risk of unintentional urinary bladder injury, thereby improving the surgical outcomes in these challenging cases.

Notes

Conflicts of interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Institute (REC.67-374-12-1), and written informed consent was obtained from each patient. This study was conducted according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Patient consent

The patient provided written informed consent for the publication of this manuscript and the related video.

Funding information

None.

Video clip

Video can be found with this article online at https://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.24216.

Fig. 1.
Gross finding of the en bloc hysterectomy specimen.
ogs-24216f1.jpg

References

1. Pegu B, Thiagaraju C, Nayak D, Subbaiah M. Placenta accreta spectrum-a catastrophic situation in obstetrics. Obstet Gynecol Sci 2021;64:239-47.
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2. Maison N, Rattanaburi A, Pruksanusak N, Buhachat R, Tocharoenvanich S, Harnprasertpong J, et al. Intraoperative blood volume loss according to gestational age at delivery among pregnant women with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS): an 11-year experience in Songklanagarind Hospital. J Obstet Gynaecol 2022;42:424-9.
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3. Muadtongon K, Rattanaburi A, Ajimakul T, Suphasynth Y, Jiamset I, Nantamongkolkul K, et al. Successful multidisciplinary team management of placenta accreta spectrum disorder: a referral center model in a middle-income country. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2024;165:813-22.
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4. Takeda S, Takeda J, Murayama Y. Placenta previa accreta spectrum: cesarean hysterectomy. Surg J (N Y) 2021;25;7:S28-37.
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5. Pichatechaiyoot A, Suphasynth Y, Sae-Sue T, Atjimakul T, Rattanaburi A, Nanthamongkolkul K, et al. Comparative study of the prevalence of organ injury in placenta accreta spectrum disorder between posterior colpotomy and conventional peripartum hysterectomies at a single referral center in southern Thailand. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2024;167:736-42.
crossref pmid
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