Forty patients with placenta accreta, increta, or percreta are presented. Clinical features revealed an average age of 29.5 years and an average parity of 3-2-1. Twenty-five had no antepartum complications. Nine were admitted with silent hemorrhage, of which 6 had a total placenta previa and 1 a low-lying previa. Postpartum hemorrhage occurred in 39% with an associated perinatal mortality of 25% and 1 maternal death. Histopathologic evaluations revealed the predominant factor to be an absent decidua. Etiologic in decidual deficiency was a previous cesarean section (12 patients). Therapy consisted of total abdominal hysterectomy in 38 patients.