UHNM named regional centre for Placenta Accreta Spectrum

Expectant patients who develop a rare but potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication and their babies are benefiting from specialist treatment at University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM).   

The multidisciplinary team at the Royal Stoke University Hospital have safely delivered almost 50 babies following a diagnosis of Placenta Accreta Spectrum (PAS) since the service launched in the summer. 

The service has now been designated as one of three PAS provider centres in the West Midlands by NHS England.

PAS covers a range of placental conditions, where all or part of the placenta attaches to the muscular layer of the uterine wall and is unable to detach after childbirth, leading to potentially fatal blood loss. 

The chances of being diagnosed with a PAS goes up following a caesarean section. 

Ms Gomathy Gopal, Consultant in Fetal Medicine and Placenta Accreta Spectrum Lead at UHNM, said: “While at times clinically necessary, the number of mothers having a caesarean section as a birthing choice has gone up, as people have the perception that a planned caesarean section in a controlled fashion, is far safe than vaginal birth. But every procedure, no matter how well carried out, still creates a scar on the uterus. 

“Following a caesarean section, the inner layer of the uterus becomes disturbed, resulting in the placenta forming more in the uterine wall, in what we call the Placenta Accreta Spectrum. There are three main levels to them, placenta accreta, placenta increta and placenta percreta. The placenta accreta is the most superficial, however it has still gone beyond the layer it should be, whereas the placenta increta and percreta are deeper and sometimes go into nearby organs such as the bladder of bowel which can cause quite a lot of damage and bleeding risk.

“We have recognised that that number of patients opting for a planned caesarean section are increasing, and with this service patients who develop placenta accreta spectrum and their babies have better outcomes when treated quickly by multidisciplinary teams with the right skills and equipment. 

Dr Simon Cunningham, Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at UHNM, said: “The decision was made nationally to centralise care to distinct centres who are able to provide a wider range of acute facilities such as intensive care admission for both mother and baby, Interventional Radiology, and MRI imaging.

“The key benefit to our patients is that they will be able to have their birth locally rather than having to travel over an hour to other regional centres such as Wolverhampton or Birmingham. There is also benefit to be close to loved ones when you go through what is quite a difficult procedure. 

“We couldn’t have become a regional centre without the enthusiasm, dedication and commitment of the whole multidisciplinary team at UHNM, and it is so it’s nice to see that rewarded. There is a national network forming with a handful of centres in both in west and east midlands that we’re proud to be a part of.”