BackgroundPlacenta accreta/increta/percreta is associated with major pregnancy complications and is thought to be becoming more common. The aims of this study were to estimate the incidence of placenta accreta/increta/percreta in the UK and to investigate and quantify the associated risk factors.MethodsA national case-control study using the UK Obstetric Surveillance System was undertaken, including 134 women diagnosed with placenta accreta/increta/percreta between May 2010 and April 2011 and 256 control women.ResultsThe estimated incidence of placenta accreta/increta/percreta was 1.7 per 10,000 maternities overall; 577 per 10,000 in women with both a previous caesarean delivery and placenta praevia. Women who had a previous caesarean delivery (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 14.41, 95%CI 5.63–36.85), other previous uterine surgery (aOR 3.40, 95%CI 1.30–8.91), an IVF pregnancy (aOR 32.13, 95%CI 2.03–509.23) and placenta praevia diagnosed antepartum (aOR 65.02, 95%CI 16.58–254.96) had raised odds of having placenta accreta/increta/percreta. There was also a raised odds of placenta accreta/increta/percreta associated with older maternal age in women without a previous caesarean delivery (aOR 1.30, 95%CI 1.13–1.50 for every one year increase in age).ConclusionsWomen with both a prior caesarean delivery and placenta praevia have a high incidence of placenta accreta/increta/percreta. There is a need to maintain a high index of suspicion of abnormal placental invasion in such women and preparations for delivery should be made accordingly.

Objective To describe the management and outcomes of placenta accreta, increta, and percreta in the UK. Design A population‐based descriptive study using the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS). Setting All 221 UK hospitals with obstetrician‐led maternity units. Population All women diagnosed with placenta accreta, increta, and percreta in the UK between May 2010 and April 2011. Methods Prospective case identification through the monthly mailing of UKOSS. Main outcome measures Median estimated blood loss, transfusion requirements. Results A cohort of 134 women were identified with placenta accreta, increta, or percreta: 50% (66/133) were suspected to have this condition antenatally. In women with a final diagnosis of placenta increta or percreta, antenatal diagnosis was associated with reduced levels of haemorrhage (median estimated blood loss 2750 versus 6100 ml, P = 0.008) and a reduced need for blood transfusion (59 versus 94%, P = 0.014), possibly because antenatally diagnosed women were more likely to have preventative therapies for haemorrhage (74 versus 52%, P = 0.007), and were less likely to have an attempt made to remove their placenta (59 versus 93%, P < 0.001). Making no attempt to remove any of the placenta, in an attempt to conserve the uterus or prior to hysterectomy, was associated with reduced levels of haemorrhage (median estimated blood loss 1750 versus 3700 ml, P = 0.001) and a reduced need for blood transfusion (57 versus 86%, P < 0.001). Conclusions Women with placenta accreta, increta, or percreta who have no attempt to remove any of their placenta, with the aim of conserving their uterus, or prior to hysterectomy, have reduced levels of haemorrhage and a reduced need for blood transfusion, supporting the recommendation of this practice.

The largest population-based cohort of women with AFLP to date has been identified. Diagnostic criteria previously proposed agree substantially with clinical diagnosis. The incidence estimate from this study is lower than documented by earlier hospital-based studies, but maternal and neonatal outcomes are better than previously reported, possibly related to improved ascertainment. Women with twin pregnancies appear to be at higher risk, but further studies are needed to investigate the risk associated with low BMI.

Objectives To follow up a UK national cohort of women admitted to hospital with confirmed 2009/H1N1 influenza in pregnancy in order to obtain a complete picture of pregnancy outcomes and estimate the risks of adverse fetal and infant outcomes.Design National cohort study.Setting 221 hospitals with obstetrician led maternity units in the UK.Participants 256 women admitted to hospital with confirmed 2009/H1N1 in pregnancy during the second wave of pandemic infection between September 2009 and January 2010; 1220 pregnant women for comparison.Main outcome measures Rates of stillbirth, perinatal mortality, and neonatal mortality; odds ratios for infected versus comparison women.Results Perinatal mortality was higher in infants born to infected women (10 deaths among 256 infants; rate 39 (95% confidence interval 19 to 71) per 1000 total births) than in infants of uninfected women (9 deaths among 1233 infants; rate 7 (3 to 13) per 1000 total births) (P<0.001). This was principally explained by an increase in the rate of stillbirth (27 per 1000 total births v 6 per 1000 total births; P=0.001). Infants of infected women were also more likely to be born prematurely than were infants of comparison women (adjusted odds ratio 4.0, 95% confidence interval 2.7 to 5.9). Infected women who delivered preterm were more likely to be infected in their third trimester (P=0.046), to have been admitted to an intensive care unit (P<0.001), and to have a secondary pneumonia (P=0.001) than were those who delivered at term.Conclusions This study suggests an increase in the risk of poor outcomes of pregnancy in women infected with 2009/H1N1, which reinforces the message from studies of maternal risk alone. The health of pregnant women is an important public health priority in future waves of this and other influenza pandemics.

A case-control study using UK data estimates the risk of uterine rupture in subsequent deliveries amongst women who have had a previous caesarean section.

SummaryBackground and objectives Most reports of pregnancy outcome in women with kidney transplants are singlecenter, retrospective, and include small numbers and few are compared with controls. The aim of this study was to collect information about pregnancy outcomes among all kidney transplant recipients in the United Kingdom, managed with current antenatal and nephrologic care, and to compare these data with a contemporaneous control group.Design, setting, participants, & measurements Pregnant women with a kidney transplant were identified through the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009. Data on a comparison cohort were obtained from the UKOSS database, containing information on comparison women identified in previous studies. Outcomes were also compared with national data.Results There were 105 pregnancies identified in 101 recipients. Median prepregnancy creatinine was 118 mmol/ L. Preeclampsia developed in 24% compared with 4% of the comparison group. Median gestation at delivery was 36 weeks, with 52% of women delivering at ,37 weeks, significantly higher than the national rate of 8%. Twentyfour infants (24%) were small for gestational age (,10th centile). There were two (2%) cases of acute rejection. Potential predictive factors for poor pregnancy outcome included .1 previous kidney transplant (P=0.03), first trimester serum creatinine .125 mmol/L (P=0.001), and diastolic BP .90 mmHg in the second (P=0.002) and third trimesters (P=0.05).Conclusions Most pregnancies in the United Kingdom in women with kidney transplants are successful but rates of maternal and neonatal complications remain high.

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Nearly 1 in every 1,000 women giving birth in the United Kingdom is extremely obese. These women have increased risks of poor outcomes. Basic equipment was not universally available for the care of these women, and this, together with the increase in prevalence of obesity, has important implications for maternity service provision. There is an urgent need to address prepregnancy care and weight management programs to prevent this increase in prevalence, as well as to ensure that appropriate services are in place to reduce the inequalities in pregnancy outcomes for these women.