Media Release

Udupi, Aug 10: In a remarkable medical achievement, a team of doctors from Kasturba Medical College and Hospital Manipal successfully performed a complex placenta accrete spectrum procedure using specialized techniques, marking a significant first in Karnataka.

The patient, a 31-year-old woman in her second pregnancy at 34 weeks of gestation, was referred to Kasturba Hospital Manipal due to central placenta previa with placental accreta spectrum. Having previously undergone a cesarean delivery, ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) confirmed the diagnosis. A collaborative team involving experts from Interventional Radiology, Obstetrics, Pediatrics, and Anesthesiology came together to manage this intricate case.

Dr Shripad Hebbar, professor and head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, shared, "After thorough preoperative counseling, the surgery was meticulously planned in a Cath Lab. The procedure involved a sequence of steps, including ultrasound-guided bilateral femoral artery access, internal iliac artery balloon catheter placement, classical cesarean section, manual separation of the adherent placenta, and gel foam embolization of bilateral uterine arteries."

This procedure, carried out in a hybrid operation theater (Cath lab) equipped with essential equipment for arterial balloon placement and embolization, not only successfully averted potential catastrophic events for the mother but also preserved her uterus. Dr Mithun Shekhar, consultant interventional radiologist, emphasized the significance of this achievement in safeguarding maternal and neonatal well-being.

Placenta accreta is a condition where the placenta attaches too deeply into the uterine wall, leading to dangerous bleeding and complications during delivery. Mortality rates as high as 7% are associated with this condition due to severe hemorrhage during cesarean delivery. Further complications include damage to the urinary bladder, disseminated intravascular coagulation, sepsis, and organ failure.

Dr Avinash Shetty, medical superintendent of Kasturba Hospital Manipal, commended the entire medical team for their success in handling this intricate procedure. He encouraged the public to leverage this advanced facility to ensure the well-being of mothers and newborns, highlighting that this surgery employed specialized techniques for the first time in Karnataka.