Placental Anomalies

Placental anomalies refer to conditions where the placenta (the afterbirth), which provides nourishment to the baby during pregnancy, is abnormally positioned on the uterine wall or attaches too deeply into the uterine muscle. Since these conditions can cause severe bleeding during the late stages of pregnancy and delivery, they require a high level of surgical experience and meticulous follow-up. Prof. Dr. Selçuk Erkılınç is a specialized expert in managing these high-risk deliveries, combining advanced tissue management and bleeding control skills from the discipline of oncological surgery.

What Are Placental Anomalies?

The most common and vitally important placental positioning disorders are classified into two main groups:

1. Placenta Previa (Low-Lying Placenta)

This is when the placenta completely or partially covers the opening of the birth canal (the cervix). In this case, the baby cannot enter the birth canal, and severe vaginal bleeding can occur as the pregnancy progresses or when labor begins. It usually manifests as painless bleeding.

2. Placenta Accreta Spectrum (Accreta, Increta, Percreta)

Normally, the placenta detaches easily from the uterine wall after birth. However, in attachment disorders, the placenta adheres too firmly to the uterine wall or invades into the uterine muscle (and in the case of Percreta, it extends into neighboring organs outside the uterus, such as the bladder). This condition can prevent the placenta from detaching after birth and cause life-threatening hemorrhage.

Risk Factors and Diagnostic Process

Placental anomalies are generally more common in women who have undergone uterine interventions in the past.

1. Risk Factors

Prior cesarean deliveries, fibroid surgeries (myomectomy), uterine evacuation (curettage) procedures, or advanced maternal age are the main factors increasing the risk of these anomalies.

2. Diagnostic Methods

During the diagnostic stage, Prof. Dr. Selçuk Erkılınç utilizes high-resolution Color Doppler Ultrasonography to meticulously examine the placenta’s relationship with the uterine wall and its vascular structure. When necessary, a Pelvic MRI scan is performed to precisely determine the depth of invasion.

Surgical Management and Safe Delivery with Prof. Dr. Selçuk Erkılınç

Advanced attachment disorders, such as placenta percreta, are considered among the most challenging surgical operations in modern medicine. Dr. Erkılınç manages this process with the following strategies:

1. Multidisciplinary Planning

Before delivery, coordination is established for blood preparation, the anesthesia team, and, if required, urology or general surgery departments to minimize operative risks.

2. Bleeding Control and Uterine-Preserving Surgery

Specialized suturing techniques and vascular ligation methods are applied during the operation to control bleeding. Dr. Erkılınç’s primary goal is to save the mother’s life while preserving the uterus whenever possible.

3. Scheduled Cesarean Delivery

To counter the risk of unexpected bleeding, delivery in these pregnancies is usually planned ahead between the 34th and 36th weeks, precisely when hospital conditions are most optimal.

Why Choose an Expert Surgeon?

Placental anomalies leave no margin for error and require rapid, instantaneous interventions. Prof. Dr. Selçuk Erkılınç brings the vast experience acquired from challenging tumor surgeries in gynecologic oncology to these cases, aiming to provide the safest possible environment for both mother and baby.