An unusual cause of abdominal pain and shock in pregnancy: case report and review of the literature

A near fatal case of spontaneous uterine rupture resulting from placenta percreta is presented. Placenta accreta refers to all conditions in which placental villi attach to, invade, or penetrate the myometrium. Placenta percreta is the most extreme form of morbid placental attachment and is said to exist when the uterine wall is completely breached by invading placental villi. Although uncommon, placenta percreta is an important entity of which the emergency physician should be aware because of its propensity to cause uterine rupture and catastrophic bleeding. This article reviews the pathophysiology, presentation, diagnosis, and emergency department management of placenta accreta, increta, and percreta.