14. Puerperal Complications Flashcards
Define: Puerperium (1)
6 wk period of adjustment after pregnancy when pregnancy-induced anatomic and physiologic changes are reversed
Name: Puerperal Complications (6)
- Postpartum Hemorrhage
- Retained Placenta
- Uterine Inversion
- Postpartum Pyrexia
- Mastitis
- Postpartum Mood Alterations
Define: Postpartum Hemorrhage (3)
- loss of >1000 ml of blood or bleeding associated with signs/symptoms of hypovolemia within 24 hours of birthing process regardless of mode of delivery
- primary – within first 24 h postpartum
- secondary – after 24 h but within first 12 wk
Describe incidence: Postpartum Hemorrhage (1)
5-15%
Name most common : Postpartum Hemorrhage (1)
Uterine Atony
Name DDX of early postpartum Hemorrhage (4)
- Tone (atony)
- Tissue (retained placenta, clots)
- Trauma (laceration, inversion)
- Thrombin (coagulopathy)
Name DDX of late postpartum Hemorrhage (3)
- Retained products
- ± endometritis
- Sub-involution of uterus
Describe this etiology of Postpartum Hemorrhage: Tone (uterine atony) (2)
- most common cause of PPH (70-80%)
- avoid with active management of 3rd stage of labour with 1) oxytocin administration 2) uterine massage 3) umbilical cord traction
What is uterine atony due to? (5)
- overdistended uterus (polyhydramnios, multiple gestations, and macrosomia)
- uterine muscle exhaustion (prolonged or rapid labour, grand multiparity, oxytocin use, and general anesthetic)
- uterine distortion (fibroids)
- intra-amniotic infection (fever or prolonged ROM)
- bladder distension (preventing uterine contraction)
Name tissue DDX of Postpartum Hemorrhage (4)
- retained placental products (membranes, cotyledon, or succenturiate lobe)
- retained blood clots in an atonic uterus
- gestational trophoblastic neoplasia
- abnormal placentation (e.g. placenta previa or placental abruption)
Name trauma DDX of Postpartum Hemorrhage (5)
- laceration (vagina, cervix, or uterus)
- episiotomy
- hematoma (vaginal, vulvar, or retroperitoneal)
- uterine rupture
- uterine inversion
Name thrombin DDX of Postpartum Hemorrhage (3)
- coagulopathy (pre-existing or acquired)
- most identified prior to delivery (low platelets increases risk)
- includes hemophilia, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and von Willebrand disease vWD (most common)
- therapeutic anti-coagulation
Describe investigations: Postpartum Hemorrhage (3)
- assess degree of blood loss and shock by clinical exam
- explore uterus and lower genital tract for evidence of atony, retained tissue, or trauma
- may be helpful to observe red-topped tube of blood – no clot in 7-10 min indicates coagulation problem
Describe management: Postpartum Hemorrhage (8)
- ABCs, call for help
- 2 large bore IVs, run crystalloids wide open
- CBC, coagulation profile, cross and type pRBCs
- treat underlying cause
- Foley catheter to empty bladder and monitor urine output
- Medical Therapy
- Local Control
- Surgical Therapy (Intractable PPH)
Describe medical therapy: Postpartum Hemorrhage (6)
- oxytocin 10 IU IM is preferred in low-risk vaginal deliveries, oxytocin IV infusion (20-40 IU in 1000 mL crystalloid at 150 mL/h) is an acceptable alternative. Oxytocin 5-10 IU IV bolus (20-40 IU in 250 mL crystalloid) can be used after vaginal birth, but not with elective C/S
- carbetocin, a long-acting oxytocin, 100 µg IV bolus over 1 min for elective C/S or 100 ug IM for vaginal deliveries with 1 risk factor for PPH (instead of a continuous oxytocin infusion)
- methylergonavine maleate (ergotamine) 0.25 mg IM/IMM q15min up to 1.25 mg; can be given as IV bolus of 0.125 mg (may exacerbate HTN)
- carboprost (Hemabate®), a synthetic PGF-1α analog, 250 µg IM/IMM q15min to max 2 mg (major prostaglandin side effects and contraindicated in cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and hepatic dysfunction)
- misoprostol 600-800 µg PO/SL (faster) or PR/PV (side effect: pyrexia if >600 µg)
- tranexamic acid (Cyklokapron®), an antifibrinolytic, 1 g IV
Describe local control: Postpartum Hemorrhage (3)
- bimanual massage: elevate the uterus and massage through patient’s abdomen
- uterine packing (mesh with antibiotic treatment)
- Bakri Balloon for tamponade: may slow hemorrhage enough to allow time for correction of coagulopathy or for preparation of an OR
Describe surgical therapy: Postpartum Hemorrhage (4)
- D&C (beware of vigorous scraping, which can lead to Asherman’s syndrome)
- embolization of uterine artery or internal iliac artery by interventional radiologist
- laparotomy with bilateral ligation of uterine artery (may be effective), ovarian artery, or hypogastric artery, compression sutures (B-Lynch or Cho sutures)
- hysterectomy last option, with angiographic embolization if post-hysterectomy bleeding
Define: Retained Placenta (1)
- placenta undelivered after 30 min postpartum
Describe etiology: Retained Placenta (2)
- placenta separated but not delivered
- abnormal placental implantation (placenta accreta, placenta increta, and placenta percreta)
Name risk factors: Retained Placenta (5)
- placenta previa
- prior C/S
- post-pregnancy curettage
- prior manual placental removal
- uterine infection
Describe clinical features: Retained Placenta (2)
- risk of PPH
- infection
Describe investigations: Retained Placenta (2)
- explore uterus
- assess degree of blood loss