Transcatheter uterine artery chemoembolization for the treatment of placenta accrete

Objective: To discuss the therapeutic effect of selective uterine artery chemoembolization (UACE) for the treatment of placenta accreta. Super-selective catheterization of bilateral uterine arteries was accomplished one after another, which was followed by transcatheter infusion of Methotrexate 25 mg and subsequent injection of Gelfoam particles into each side. The efficacy, complications and prognoses were observed. The clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. Results: In all cases the blood human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) was restored to normal within 2-4 weeks after the chemoembolization. The bleeding was stopped immediately after the procedure in 5 cases with postpartum hemorrhage. No recurrent hemorrhage or severe complications occurred in all cases. All patients were followed up for one year and normal menstrual cycle was regained in all cases. Conclusion: Selective uterine artery chemoembolization is an effective, minimally-invasive method for the treatment of placenta accreta. (authors)