MDCAST: Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder

In this episode of the FlightBridgeED Podcast, Dr. Michael Lauria and guest Dr. Alex Pfeiffer, a maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) fellow, delve into the critical and complex topic of Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorder (PAS). With its rapidly evolving complications, this condition demands acute recognition, careful transport coordination, and multidisciplinary care. Together, they unpack the spectrum’s pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnostic strategies, and advanced management protocols essential for critical care and transport teams. Whether you’re a seasoned provider or new to pre-hospital medicine, this episode provides practical knowledge and actionable insights to elevate your clinical practice.

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Takeaways

• Advanced Insight: The importance of understanding PAS as a spectrum, including the implications of invasive placentation on maternal hemorrhage and the role of multidisciplinary teams in patient outcomes.
• Practical Application: Early recognition of PAS through clinical and diagnostic signs, such as Doppler flow abnormalities, hypervascularity, and placental lakes, to facilitate timely and appropriate interventions.
• Foundational Knowledge: Awareness of risk factors like prior cesarean sections, placenta previa, and uterine surgeries that increase the likelihood of PAS and necessitate careful monitoring.

References
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8.             Padilla CR, Shamshirsaz AA, Easter SR, et al. Critical Care in Placenta Accreta Spectrum Disorders-A Call to Action. Am J Perinatol. Jul 2023;40(9):988-995. doi:10.1055/s-0043-1761638

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