[Employing a balloon catheter for occlusion and/or embolization of the pelvic vasculature as an adjuvant therapy in cases of abnormal placentation].

Placenta accreta is a relatively rare event, in which the placenta is abnormally implanted into the uterine myometrium. The most significant complication of abnormal placentation is bleeding, mainly during labor. The bleeding increases especially when manual lysis of the placenta is attempted. Cesarean hysterectomy is the recommended form of management of most cases where placenta accerta is encountered. During recent years, inserting intravascular balloon catheter for occlusion and/or arterial embolization, was introduced as an adjuvant therapy in order to minimize blood loss during cesarean hysterectomy. In selective cases the placement of a balloon catheter was performed with conservative management, with the intent of avoiding hysterectomy, thereby preserving fertility. Contradicting reports exist regarding the effectiveness and safety of employing balloon catheters in cases of placenta accreta. The objective of this review was to evaluate the role of balloon catheter for occlusion and/or embolization of the pelvic vasculature in women diagnosed with abnormal placentation, treated either conservatively or by cesarean hysterectomy.