Application of uterine artery embolization in midtrimester termination of placenta previa

Objective To evaluate the role of uterine artery embolization in midtrimester termination of placenta previa. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed for 33 women with complete placenta previa in midtrimester termination in the International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital from January, 2007 to June, 2017. Eleven women induced by prophylactic UAE and MTX therapy as observation group;the other 22 women induced without prophylactic UAE as control group. We compared patient characteristics, intraoperative blood loss and and outcomes. For outpatient, the menstruation recovery was follow-up by telephone after termination of pregnancy. SPSS 23.0 was used to analyze data. Results ① There was no significant difference between the observation group and the control group in the age, gravidity, parity, placenta previa position, previous cesarean section, induced labor method, infection, success rate of induction and placental adhesion(P>0.05). Comparing the two groups, the prophylactic UAE and MTX therapy can reduce the amount of bleeding effectively (P=0.031) and increase induction time significantly (P=0.021). ② The emergency UAE is a very efficacious method during excessive intrapartum bleeding in 4 cases of control group. ③ Menstrual recovery time:uterine artery embolization group (lost 1 case) was (51.93±21.24) days, non-uterine artery embolization group (lost 4 cases) was (40.29±11.43) days, P=0.093. Conclusion Uterine artery embolization is relative safe and effective in the induction of second trimester termination with completely placenta previa. Uterine arterial embolization had no effect on menstrual recovery and fertility after induction of labor.