Placenta accreta spectrum — haemorrhage risk ⚠️ 🤰
🧠 Clinical mechanism: Abnormally adherent or invasive placental tissue increases the risk of major obstetric bleeding, especially with placenta praevia and previous caesarean birth.
🔎 Recognise
- Antenatal imaging concern or failure of placenta to separate after delivery; prior caesarean, curettage or other uterine surgery increases suspicion, but may be absent.
🛟 First assessment and action
- Involve a specialist multidisciplinary obstetric team and plan delivery, blood products and theatre support at an appropriate centre.
🧪 Investigations and reassessment
- Placental ultrasound and specialist imaging as advised; assess antenatal blood group and haemorrhage risk.
⚠️ Pitfall / escalation
- Never forcibly remove a suspected adherent placenta; unplanned manipulation can provoke life-threatening haemorrhage.
UK reference: Primary NHS/NICE/RCOG/GMC source.
Editorial draft, 7 November 2026: targeted source-supported educational summary, NOT independent consultant/pharmacist verification or a treatment protocol. Follow up-to-date BNF, NICE and local NHS pathways.
Related: Bleeding Antepartum · Bleeding Postpartum · Antepartum haemorrhage — abruption or praevia 🚨 🤰