Ultrasound Detection of Bladder-Uterovaginal Anastomoses in Morbidly Adherent Placenta

Abstract

Vascular control is a fundamental step in the surgical management of morbidly adherent placenta (MAP), and this implies a precise knowledge of the vascular supply in the lower part of the genital tract. High degrees of MAP are sometimes characterised by the presence of a rich vascular anastomotic system between the bladder, uterus, and vagina involving the superior, medial, and inferior vaginal and the lower vesical arteries. This brief report shows that prenatal ultrasound assessment of bladder-uterovaginal anastomoses in MAP is feasible.

Keywords: Doppler ultrasound; Morbidly adherent placenta; Prenatal diagnosis.