Placenta Accreta Spectrum is Life-Threatening and Becoming More Common, Says Intermountain Health
Oct 21, 2026
Rare, Life-Threatening Condition is Best Treated by Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialists
SALT LAKE CITY, UT (PRUnderground) October 21st, 2026
A rare but serious pregnancy condition, placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) is when the placenta attaches too deeply to the uterus. In severe cases, it can grow into or through the uterine wall.
The placenta is the baby's lifeline during pregnancy. It provides oxygen and nutrients, removes waste and produces hormones that support pregnancy.
Normally, the placenta separates from the uterus after the baby is born. With PAS, it remains firmly attached. Trying to remove it can cause sudden, severe and potentially life-threatening bleeding.
PAS is estimated to affect about one in every 272 births. Nationally, it has become more common over the past several decades, largely because the number of cesarean deliveries has increased. However, Intermountain Health has been recognized nationally for lower Cesarean section rates.
"When a patient with placenta accreta spectrum goes into labor or begins bleeding before a planned delivery, the risk of severe hemorrhage and emergency surgery rises significantly," said Dr. Ibrahim Hammad, medical director for the Placenta Accreta Spectrum program at Intermountain Health. "That is why early recognition, careful planning, and delivery at an experienced center are so important."
PAS requires specialized, team-based care
"Determining the safest treatment plan begins with a careful review of the patient's history, risk factors, and ultrasound findings by clinicians experienced in placenta accreta spectrum," said Dr. Kimberly Moyle, an OB-GYN and maternal-fetal medicine physician at Intermountain Health.
Ultrasound is an important part of diagnosing PAS, but it does not always show the full picture. Clinical risk factors, particularly placenta previa combined with one or more previous cesarean deliveries, are also critical to identifying patients who may need specialized care.
Intermountain's PAS specialists work with a large team that may include anesthesiologists, radiologists, pelvic surgeons, urologists, neonatologists, specialized nurses and blood-bank personnel. Together, they create a delivery plan based on the needs of each mother and baby.
For many patients with severe PAS, the safest treatment is a planned cesarean delivery followed by removal of the uterus, known as a hysterectomy. The placenta is left in place because trying to separate it can cause massive bleeding.
"In carefully selected cases, other approaches may be considered, including conservative techniques to preserve the uterus," said Dr. Moyle. "These decisions are individualized and should be made by an experienced multidisciplinary team after detailed counseling about the potential risks and benefits."
Most Intermountain patients with PAS receive care at Intermountain Medical Center in Murray. The program has cared for more than 35 PAS patients so far this year, placing it among the country's higher-volume programs.
Intermountain specialists also travel to Montana and Wyoming to help care for patients across the region.
Risk factors for PAS include:
- One or more previous cesarean deliveries
- Placenta previa, when the placenta covers part or all of the cervix
- Previous surgery involving the uterus
- Scarring inside the uterus
- Multiple previous pregnancies
- Advanced maternal age
The highest risk occurs when a patient has placenta previa and has also had one or more previous cesarean deliveries.
Women with these risk factors should talk with their OB-GYN or a maternal-fetal medicine specialist before pregnancy or early in pregnancy.
For more information about high-risk pregnancy care, visit Intermountain's maternal-fetal medicine page. To find an OB-GYN or midwife, visit Intermountain's pregnancy and baby page.
About Intermountain Health
Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a nonprofit health plan called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org/. For more information, see intermountainhealth.org/ or call 801-442-2000.
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