Successful resuscitation of a patient with pernicious placenta previa and placenta accreta who had massive life-threatening bleeding during cesarean section: A case report

RATIONALE: Pernicious placenta accrete (PPP) is an obstetrical complication associated with severe life-threatening hemorrhage, which is one of the leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. Caesarean hysterectomy is the effective method to control intraoperative bleeding for this unscheduled high-risk patient. But a challenge for clinicians in this case is to determine the optimal timing of hysterectomy, because it will directly determine maternal outcome. PATIENT CONCERNS: We here report a case diagnosed with PPP who suffered from a severe life-threatening hemorrhage during cesarean section but was successfully resuscitated and subsequently discharged from hospital after a smooth recovery. DIAGNOSES: Although binding the lower uterine segment with a tourniquet markedly reduced bleeding in the surgical field after delivery, massive concealed vaginal life-threatening bleeding occurred immediately, and the amount of vaginal blood loss within 10 minutes was as much as 3000 mL. INTERVENTIONS: An experienced multidisciplinary team was immediately established, and an unscheduled caesarean hysterectomy was performed immediately, and cell salvage was used. OUTCOME: The patient was successfully resuscitated and both the parturient and neonate were well and discharged. LESSON: If binding the lower uterine segment with a tourniquet markedly reduces bleeding in the surgical field after cesarean delivery in high-risk patients with PPP, and persistence of hypotension after active resuscitation of the circulation is detected, anesthesiologist should be vigilant enough to detect the possibility of concealed vaginal life-threatening bleeding. If this is confirmed, it should be quickly identified whether bleeding can be quickly controlled within a short period of time. If not, the preferred strategy is that the earlier the unscheduled hysterectomy, the better the outcome. A well-established multidisciplinary team and autologous blood recovery and transfusion techniques are also important in ensuring successful resuscitation of patients.