Placenta accreta spectrum surgery with the Joel Cohen incision for abdominal access: a single-center experience

Objectives: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is usually treated by hysterectomy performed through a midline incision. We hypothesize that PAS surgery can be performed through a Joel-Cohen incision with adequate sight and safety. Material and methods: The data on women having a hysterectomy due to PAS between 2013–2021 was collected retrospectively. Operation length, baby’s pre-delivery general anesthesia exposure time, transfusion rates, complication rates, postoperative admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), postoperative hospital stay, and neonatal outcomes were collected. In addition, the data investigated whether the operation was performed under emergent conditions and in the early (2013–2016) or late (2017–2021) years. Results: 161 patients met the inclusion criteria. The median gestational age at delivery was 34 weeks (27–39). The mean operation length was 150 minutes (75–420), and the anesthesia–to–delivery interval was 32 minutes (5–95). Twenty-three (14%) patients did not receive any blood product, 73 (45%) received less than three packs of erythrocyte, and only seven (4%) had a massive transfusion. Bladder injuries occurred in 24 (15%). Preoperative anemia, hypogastric artery ligation, transfusion, ICU admission, and maternal and neonatal complications were more frequent in emergent cases. Comparison between the early and late groups showed a decrease in the rate of anemia, maternal ICU admission, hypogastric artery ligation, and neonatal complications. In addition, infectious complications were relatively rare in all groups. Conclusions: The Joel-Cohen incision and bladder dissection before the baby's delivery reduce transfusion rates and avoid midline incision, which is prone to complications and unpleasant cosmetic appearance while performing a hysterectomy for PAS surgery.