What referral criteria should I use for a patient diagnosed with placenta previa and suspected placenta accreta spectrum?

If placenta accreta spectrum is suspected following a greyscale ultrasound scan with colour doppler, the woman or pregnant person should be referred to a specialist placenta accreta spectrum centre for care and ongoing management ¹. A specialist placenta accreta spectrum centre is a specialised maternity service designed for individuals diagnosed with placenta accreta spectrum ¹. These centres provide diagnosis and care, including birth, within a facility that has an appropriate multidisciplinary team, access to adult intensive care, level 3 neonatal care, and access to blood products ¹. Initial assessment for placenta accreta is prompted if a routine 20-week ultrasound scan reveals placenta praevia or a low-lying placenta in a woman or pregnant person with a previous caesarean scar or other uterine scar ¹. In such instances, a referral for a greyscale ultrasound scan with colour doppler is made to assess for placenta accreta ¹.