Conservative Management of Placenta Accreta Using Helium Plasma Focused Radiofrequency Energy: A Surgical Technique

The incidence of abnormal placentation has escalated due to the increase in cesarean sections. Adherent placentas are associated with significant maternal morbidity and mortality and often result in cesarean hysterectomy due to life-threatening hemorrhage. The purpose of these case reports is to describe conservative management of placenta accreta by utilizing a helium plasma device to fulgurate the placental bed. Placenta accreta is associated with a 7% mortality rate and 60% morbidity rate. Conservative treatment for uterine preservation include embolization, placenta left in-situ, uterine balloon tamponade, and methotrexate. Complications of these options include hemorrhage, endometritis, and morbidly adherent placentas (MAP) recurrence in subsequent pregnancies. The helium plasma device utilizes radiofrequency (RF) to ionize helium into a plasma beam capable of coagulating and fulgurating tissue with high precision and minimal thermal spread. This instrument is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved for surgical coagulation and fulguration, but has not been evaluated in the treatment of placenta accreta at the time of a cesarean section. The helium plasma device was used to fulgurate the placenta accreta at 40% power 4 L/min gas flow for 30 seconds, providing adequate hemostasis to the 12.76 cc of retained placental bed. Estimated blood loss was 560 cc. The patient remained hemodynamically stable and had no complications at follow up. The device provided efficient management of placenta accreta. This approach offers a safer alternative management of abnormal placentation and avoiding a cesarean hysterectomy. This novel surgical technique allows women with morbidly adherent placentas to maintain reproductive capability.