Blood Transfusion Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Blood Transfusion, including details on blood donation, blood types, leukemia.

Conservative management of placenta previa percreta in a Jehovah's Witness.

Weinstein A, Chandra P, Schiavello H, Fleischer A

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York, 11237, USA.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhage is a serious threat with placenta accreta, often requiring aggressive operative intervention by hysterectomy and resuscitative measures with large-volume blood replacement to ensure survival. Refusal to accept transfusion makes management especially difficult. CASE: We report a Jehovah's Witness patient who had 9 previous cesarean deliveries and presented with anemia and placenta previa percreta invading the bladder wall. Management objectives were to enhance the patient's status, using erythropoietin and autologous transfusion, and to minimize the chance of hemorrhage by prophylactic uterine artery embolization. The placenta was left in situ after the delivery with no untoward consequences. Methotrexate was held in readiness, but was not required as adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSION: Effective care of such patients requires close collaborative team effort and advanced planning to ensure a good outcome.

Published 2 May 2005 in Obstet Gynecol, 105(5): 1247-50.
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