Caesarean scar pregnancy: a precursor of placenta percreta/accreta

Abstract

In the last decade, diagnosis of caesarean scar (CS) pregnancy and abnormal placental invasion has gone up significantly. It appears that the history of previous caesarean section is the predisposing factor common to both conditions. Until now, these are treated as a separate entity and therefore managed differently. Recent available evidence suggests that these are not a separate entity but rather a continuum of the same condition. If the caesarean scar pregnancy is managed expectantly in the 1st trimester, most likely it evolves into placenta accreta. This leads invariably to peripartum hysterectomy for postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) and severe maternal morbidity. Early diagnosis and intervention may give a favourable outcome.