In 2003, Bell-Thomas et al (BJOG 2003;110:1120-1122) reported on the emergency use of a transfemoral aortic occlusion catheter to control massive haemorrhage in a case of caesarean hysterectomy for placenta percreta. This was only the second case published in the international literature on the use of an intra-abdominal aortic balloon occlusion (IABO) in the management of placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) (Paull et al. Anesth Intensive Care 1995;23:731-734).