Hac�ensac� Meridian Health Treats �are Pregnancy Condition
HU�C�s Center ��r A�n�rmal Pla�entati�n S�e�iali�es In Dia�n�sis� �ana�ement ��Pla�enta A��reta
A�dullaAl-�han , M . � . is the �irector of The Center for A�normal Placentation and Section Chief of Maternal�etal Medicine�Surgery at Hac�ensac� Meridian Hac�ensac� �niversityMedical Center .
PHOTO CO��TESY O� HAC�E�SAC� ME�I�IA� HEA�TH
Ayear of quarantining didn ’ t quite produce the baby boom so many people were expecting . “ I can understand the hesitation of getting pregnant during apandemic ,” says mom , �aurenWondsel , whose son , Henry , celebrated his first birthday justasthe country wascelebrating the approval of aCOVID-19 vaccine .
“ We had been following the guidelines set forth by the CDC and with the announcement of the vaccine ’ s imminent arrival , my husband , Thomas , and Ifelt safe to continue planstoexpand our familyin2020 ,” explains �auren , who is mostexcited forHenry to have asibling close in age .“ Itook every precaution to protect myself from the virus and was thrilled tofind out Iwas pregnant with ababy girl inOctober .”
Thankfully , the coronavirus had no impact on �auren ’ s pregnancybut an ultrasound revealed she was suffering from an unrelated and rare condition , known as placenta accreta .“ My doctor explained that this occurred asaresult of scar tissue formed after the cesarean section birth of Henry .”
WHATI��LACENTAACCRETA�
Theplacentaisalifeline fora developing baby during pregnancy . It is attached to the inner wall of the uterus and provides oxygen and nutrients through the umbilical cord . Butasmorewomen give birth by C-section , the greater the risk of placental problems , including the placenta invading the uterine wall . This condition known as placenta accreta is classified into three categories , depending on the severityofattachment . In �auren ’ s case , the placenta fully invaded the uterine wall and attached itself to other pelvic organs .“ I was devastated to find out this was the worst case scenario andone of the leading causes of maternal death ,” she says .
WHATMA�E� THE CONDITION �O DIRE�
When aplacentaaccreta forms , it triggers a process known as neovascularization �the excessive formation of newbloodvesselsaroundthe affected area . These extra blood vessels can cause awoman to hemorrhage uncontrollably when herbaby isdelivered and the doctor attempts to remove the placenta .
IM�ORTANCE O� �INDINGTHE RIGHT CARE TEAM
The bleeding that can occur during accreta surgeries is totally different from any other kind of obstetrical bleeding , so even the mosttalented doctors are often unprepared to deal with it . Through her research , �auren found TheCenter forAbnormal Placentation�CAP� at Hackensack Meridian HackensackUniversityMedical Center , the first established center in the nation to specialize in the diagnosis and surgical management of placenta accreta , where experts perform the most placenta accreta surgeries in the country . As a result , HackensackMeridian HackensackUniversity Medical Center has become an active referral center formothers in these special situations , like�auren , wholives on �ongIsland butrented atemporary apartment in Hackensack during her pregnancy .
Abdulla Al-Khan , M . D . is the director of CAPand section chief of Maternal Fetal Medicine �Surgery at Hackensack Meridian Hackensack University Medical Center . “ We have women with placenta accreta and other placental problems come from all over the world to deliver their babies here , all with excellent outcomes . We take care of them when no other facility will , because they are so high risk ,” Dr . Al-Khan explains .
RI��� �OR THE �A�Y�
While the mother ’ scare has to be very carefully managed , there ’ s usuallyvery little risktothe baby . Typically , Dr . Al-Khan and team prepare for pretermbirth at �2 weeks butthatwas not thecase for�auren . “ At just 2� weeks , Ibegan to experience severe painand was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night . Ascan revealed Ihad three liters of blood pooledinmyabdomen ,” says �auren , who was quickly prepared for extensive surgery . The multidisciplinary team would deliverher baby by cesarean , while working to minimize the risk of further hemorrhaging , occlude the extra blood vessels , remove the remaining placenta , and performa hysterectomy , as typically required after such a highriskpregnancy .“ �auren ’ s case wasone of themost complicated I have ever seen ,” Dr . Al-Khan explains .
�A�Y EMER�ONI��ORN
In the midst of all of this , �auren ’ s baby girlwas born at just 1 pound , 6 ounces .“ We chose the name Emerson because it means brave ,” says�auren .
Every day , withthe helpof the hospital ’ s neonatal careteam , Emersonhas been getting stronger .
“ Dr . Al-Khan is a miracle worker . My husband reminds me daily that if itwasn ’ t forhis expertise , I may not be here today , I will forever be grateful .”
Call 551-���-245� or visitha��ensa���m� . org for more information .
� SPRING 2021 | THE RECORD HEALTH QUARTERLY | PREPARED BY THE ADVERTISING DEPT .