PAS Introduction

Placenta accreta spectrum, encompasses accreta, increta and percreta, and is a potentially life-threatening pregnancy complication with an increasing incidence worldwide. Given the complexity of the pelvic surgery often required at delivery, maternal morbidity is high. Caesarean delivery is associated with an increased risk of PAS in subsequent pregnancies accounting for around 95% of the cases.

 

Other risk factors such as assisted reproductive technology and prior uterine surgery may also increase the risk. Specialised maternity care for women suspected of and diagnosed with PAS includes services provided by Specialised PAS Centres delivered as part of a regional network arrangement inclusive of local maternity services. 

 

NHS England commissions specialist maternity care services for women suspected of, and diagnosed with, PAS from PAS Centres. This includes specialist prenatal diagnosis, risk assessment and definitive treatment of PAS by a multidisciplinary team (MDT) with expertise in complex pelvic surgery. PAS Centres have antenatal imaging (fetal medicine or radiology), adult intensive care, level three neonatal intensive care services and immediate access to blood products.