The role of ultrasound in prediction of intra-operative blood loss in cases of placenta accreta spectrum disorders

Purpose To assess the value of various grey-scale ultrasound, 2D color Doppler, and 3D power Doppler sonographic markers in predicting major intraoperative blood loss during planned cesarean hysterectomy for cases diagnosed with placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) disorders. Methods 50 women diagnosed with PAS were scanned the day before planned delivery and hysterectomy for various sonographic markers indicative of placental invasion. These women were then later divided according to blood loss in two groups: group A (minor hemorrhage, < 2500 ml), and group B (major hemorrhage, > 2500 ml), and the data were analyzed. Results The odds ratio (OR) for major hemorrhage was as follows for the following sonographic markers: ‘number of lacunae > 4′ OR 3.8 95% CI (1.0–13.8) ( p = 0.047); ‘subplacental hypervascularity’ OR 10.8 95% CI (1.2–98.0) ( p = 0.035); ‘tortuous vascularity with ‘chaotic branching’ OR 10.8 95%CI (1.2–98.0) ( p = 0.035); ‘numerous coherent vessels involving the serosa–bladder interface OR 14.6 95% CI (2.7–80.5) ( p = 0.002); and ‘presence of bridging vessels OR 2.9 95% CI (1.4–6.9) ( p = 0.005). Only the presence of numerous coherent vessels involving the bladder–serosal interface ( p = 0.002) was proven to be independent predictor of major hemorrhage during hysterectomy. Conclusion The use of 2D color Doppler and 3D power Doppler can help predict massive hemorrhage in cases of PAS disorders.