Retained non-previa placenta in the era of “placenta accreta spectrum”: a report of two cases managed expectantly and a proposed plan for management

Retained placenta (RP) is the absence of placental expulsion within 30 min of neonatal delivery. It is an obstetric complication affecting 0.5–4.8% of all vaginal deliveries. We report two cases in which the patients were primiparous. Patients were initially kept at the hospital under close observat...

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Main Authors: Mohamad K. Ramadan, Nouhad El-Zein, Murchida Jomaa, Abir Zeidan, Rana El Tal, Dominique A. Badr
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1504491/full
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author Mohamad K. Ramadan
Mohamad K. Ramadan
Nouhad El-Zein
Murchida Jomaa
Abir Zeidan
Rana El Tal
Dominique A. Badr
author_facet Mohamad K. Ramadan
Mohamad K. Ramadan
Nouhad El-Zein
Murchida Jomaa
Abir Zeidan
Rana El Tal
Dominique A. Badr
author_sort Mohamad K. Ramadan
collection DOAJ
description Retained placenta (RP) is the absence of placental expulsion within 30 min of neonatal delivery. It is an obstetric complication affecting 0.5–4.8% of all vaginal deliveries. We report two cases in which the patients were primiparous. Patients were initially kept at the hospital under close observation. The lack of spontaneous detachment and the absence of bleeding prompted us to resort to an expectant approach approved by both patients. A decrease in B-hCG levels was followed by a steady decrease in placental size and the resumption of regular menses. The management of RP should be individualized according to hospital resources, patient fertility desire, sonographic characteristics, the presence of hemorrhage, and hemodynamic stability. RP should prompt the mobilization of resources needed for managing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), which might ensue without notice. Manual removal of the placenta (MROP) has been recommended for managing RP regardless of hemorrhage or retention etiology. MROP, however, might initiate massive bleeding, infections, prolonged hospitalization, the need for curettage and hysterectomy. Moreover, if MROP is attempted in an unidentified placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), it might initiate life-threatening hemorrhage, necessitating the performance of hemostatic interventions, including emergent hysterectomy. Serious considerations should be given to mitigate the indiscriminate use of MROP in the era of the “PAS epidemic.”
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spelling doaj-art-3c080ad4a8b04c81b1224fd2a74fabff2025-08-20T02:20:00ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-04-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15044911504491Retained non-previa placenta in the era of “placenta accreta spectrum”: a report of two cases managed expectantly and a proposed plan for managementMohamad K. Ramadan0Mohamad K. Ramadan1Nouhad El-Zein2Murchida Jomaa3Abir Zeidan4Rana El Tal5Dominique A. Badr6Division of Maternal-Fetal-Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, LebanonDivision of Maternal-Fetal-Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Makassed General Hospital, Beirut, LebanonDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Brugmann, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, BelgiumRetained placenta (RP) is the absence of placental expulsion within 30 min of neonatal delivery. It is an obstetric complication affecting 0.5–4.8% of all vaginal deliveries. We report two cases in which the patients were primiparous. Patients were initially kept at the hospital under close observation. The lack of spontaneous detachment and the absence of bleeding prompted us to resort to an expectant approach approved by both patients. A decrease in B-hCG levels was followed by a steady decrease in placental size and the resumption of regular menses. The management of RP should be individualized according to hospital resources, patient fertility desire, sonographic characteristics, the presence of hemorrhage, and hemodynamic stability. RP should prompt the mobilization of resources needed for managing postpartum hemorrhage (PPH), which might ensue without notice. Manual removal of the placenta (MROP) has been recommended for managing RP regardless of hemorrhage or retention etiology. MROP, however, might initiate massive bleeding, infections, prolonged hospitalization, the need for curettage and hysterectomy. Moreover, if MROP is attempted in an unidentified placenta accreta spectrum (PAS), it might initiate life-threatening hemorrhage, necessitating the performance of hemostatic interventions, including emergent hysterectomy. Serious considerations should be given to mitigate the indiscriminate use of MROP in the era of the “PAS epidemic.”https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1504491/fullexpectant managementplacenta accreta spectrumplacenta adherentultrasonographyretained placenta
spellingShingle Mohamad K. Ramadan
Mohamad K. Ramadan
Nouhad El-Zein
Murchida Jomaa
Abir Zeidan
Rana El Tal
Dominique A. Badr
Retained non-previa placenta in the era of “placenta accreta spectrum”: a report of two cases managed expectantly and a proposed plan for management
Frontiers in Medicine
expectant management
placenta accreta spectrum
placenta adherent
ultrasonography
retained placenta
title Retained non-previa placenta in the era of “placenta accreta spectrum”: a report of two cases managed expectantly and a proposed plan for management
title_full Retained non-previa placenta in the era of “placenta accreta spectrum”: a report of two cases managed expectantly and a proposed plan for management
title_fullStr Retained non-previa placenta in the era of “placenta accreta spectrum”: a report of two cases managed expectantly and a proposed plan for management
title_full_unstemmed Retained non-previa placenta in the era of “placenta accreta spectrum”: a report of two cases managed expectantly and a proposed plan for management
title_short Retained non-previa placenta in the era of “placenta accreta spectrum”: a report of two cases managed expectantly and a proposed plan for management
title_sort retained non previa placenta in the era of placenta accreta spectrum a report of two cases managed expectantly and a proposed plan for management
topic expectant management
placenta accreta spectrum
placenta adherent
ultrasonography
retained placenta
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1504491/full
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