8- Complicated pregnancy (life threatening problems) Flashcards
what makes a women at high risk of having complicationd in pregnancy
- Certain physical characteristics, such as age and weight
- Problems in a previous pregnancy, including the need to have a cesarean delivery
- Certain disorders present before pregnancy
- Exposures that can harm the fetus
older women and pregnancy
Women aged 35 and older are at increased risk of having the following:
- A preexisting disorder that increases risk during pregnancy, such as high blood pressure or diabetes
- Problems related to the pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy), chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, and stillbirth
- Complications during labor, such as difficult labor or a placenta that detaches too soon (placental abruption) or is mislocated (placenta previa)
underweight women and pregnancy
Small, underweight babies
overweight women and pregnancy
- Very large babies (large-for-gestational age), which may be difficult to deliver
- Babies who are born underweight (small-for-gestational age)
- Babies with birth defects
- Miscarriages and stillbirth
- Gestational diabetes
- Gestational hypertension (high blood pressure that first develops after 20 weeks of pregnancy)
- Preeclampsia (gestational hypertension accompanied by protein in the urine)
- A pregnancy that lasts 42 weeks or longer (postterm pregnancy)
- Need for a cesarean delivery
problems with previous pregnancy
- A premature baby
- An underweight baby (small-for-gestational age)
- A baby that weighed more than 10 pounds (large-for-gestational age)
- A baby with birth defects
- A previous miscarriage
- A history of several pregnancy losses
- A late (postterm) delivery (after 42 weeks of pregnancy)
- Rh incompatibility that required a blood transfusion to the fetus
- Labor that required a cesarean delivery
- Too much amniotic fluid in the uterus (polyhydramnios)
- Too little amniotic fluid in the uterus (oligohydramnios)
- An abnormally located pregnancy (ectopic pregnancy)
- A fetus in an abnormal position, such as buttocks first (breech)
- A baby whose shoulder gets caught in the birth canal (shoulder dystocia)
disorders which women have before pregnancy which can increase risk of current pregnancy
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Kidney disorders
- Kidney infections
- Heart failure
- Sickle cell disease
- Sexually transmitted infections
- Problems with the fallopian tubes
- short cervix due to LLETZ
exposure during pregnancy
- Certain infections
- Certain drugs (such lithium, azithromycin, erythromycin, and antidepressants called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)
- Radiation and certain chemicals (such as carbon monoxide, lead, gasoline, and mercury)
Life threatening problems of pregnancy
o Obstetric haemorrhage
o Venous thromboembolism
o Sepsis
o Maternal collapse
o Retained placenta
Obstetric haemorrhage
refers to any kind of excessive bleeding (usually related to pregnancy) in a parturient. This could be during pregnancy, child birth, or in the postpartum period.
classification of PPH
- MINOR 500-1000MLS
- MODERATE (>1000MLS)
- MAJOR (1000-2000MLS)
- MASSIVE (>2000MLS OR 150MLS/MIN)
what is the most common cause of obstetric haemorrhage
post partum haemorhage
- >500mls
causes of obstetric haemorrhage
- placenta praevia
- placental abruption
- placeta accreta
- PPH e.g. uterine atony
placenta praevia
where the placenta is attached in the lower portion of the uterus, lower than the presenting part of the fetus
Definitions:
- Low-lying placenta is used when the placenta is within 20mm of the internal cervical os
- Placenta praevia is used only when the placenta is over the internal cervical os
placenta praevia is a cause of
antepartum haemorrhage
risks of having placenta praevia
- Antepartum haemorrhage
- Emergency caesarean section
- Emergency hysterectomy
- Maternal anaemia and transfusions
- Preterm birth and low birth weight
- Stillbirth
risk factors for placenta praevia
- Previous caesarean sections
- Previous placenta praevia
- Older maternal age
- Maternal smoking
- Structural uterine abnormalities (e.g. fibroids)
- Assisted reproduction (e.g. IVF)
diagnosing placenta praevia
- 20 week anomoly USS
presentation of placenta praevia
many asymptomatic
- painless (bright red) vaginal bleeding in pregnancy (antepartum haemorrhage).
- Bleeding usually occurs later in pregnancy (around or after 36 weeks)
management of placenta praevia
- repeat transvaginal US at 32 and 36 weeks to guide delivery decision
- corticosteroid given between 34 and 35+6 weeks to mature fetal lungs
- planned delivery between 36 and 37 weeks (to prevent spontaneous labour and bleeding)
- Caesarean section if complete placenta praevia or low-lying placenta
- Emergency c-section if premature labour or antenatal bleeding
management of haemorrhage cause by placenta praevia
- Emergency caesarean section
- Blood transfusions
- Intrauterine balloon tamponade
- Uterine artery occlusion
- Emergency hysterectomy
placenta accreta
Placenta accreta refers to when the placenta implants deeper, through and past the endometrium, making it difficult to separate the placenta after delivery of the baby. It is referred to as placenta accreta spectrum, as there is a spectrum of severity in how deep and broad the abnormal implantation extends.
Pathophysiology of placenta accreta
There are three layers to the uterine wall:
- Endometrium, the inner layer that contains connective tissue (stroma), epithelial cells and blood vessels
- Myometrium, the middle layer that contains smooth muscle
- Perimetrium, the outer layer, which is a serous membrane similar to the peritoneum (also known as serosa)
Usually the placenta attaches to the endometrium. This allows the placenta to separate cleanly during the third stage of labour, after delivery of the baby.
With placenta accreta, the placenta embeds past the endometrium, into the myometrium and beyond. This may happen due to a defect in the endometrium. Imperfections may occur due to previous uterine surgery, such as a caesarean section or curettage procedure. The deep implantation makes it very difficult for the placenta to separate during delivery, leading to extensive bleeding (postpartum haemorrhage).
define superficial placenta accreta
is where the placenta implants in the surface of the myometrium, but not beyond
define placenta increta
is where the placenta attaches deeply into the myometrium
define placenta percreta
is where the placenta invades past the myometrium and perimetrium, potentially reaching other organs such as the bladder
RF for placenta accreta
Risk Factors
- Previous placenta accreta
- Previous endometrial curettage procedures (e.g. for miscarriage or abortion)
- Previous caesarean section
- Multigravida
- Increased maternal age
- Low-lying placenta or placenta praevia
presentation of placenta accreta
typically asymptomatic during pregnancy
- may be picked up on US scan
- diagnosed at birth when its difficult to deliver placenta
placenta accreta is a significant cause of
postpartum haemorrhage
if placenta accreta is diagnosed antenatally by US what should happen
MRI scans may be used to assess the depth and width of the invasion.
management of placenta accreta at birth to prevent haemorrhage
- delivery between 35 to 36+6 weeks gestation to prevent spontaneous labour
- antenatal steroids
- caesearan
option during caesarean in a women with placenta accreta
- Hysterectomy with the placenta remaining in the uterus (recommended)
- Uterus preserving surgery, with resection of part of the myometrium along with the placenta
- Expectant management, leaving the placenta in place to be reabsorbed over time
placental abruption
refers to when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus during pregnancy.
- significant cause of antepartum hameorrhage
The risk factors for placental abruption are:
- Previous placental abruption
- Pre-eclampsia
- Bleeding early in pregnancy
- Trauma (consider domestic violence)
- Multiple pregnancy
- Fetal growth restriction
- Multigravida
- Increased maternal age
- Smoking
- Cocaine or amphetamine use
The typical presentation of placental abruption is with:
- Sudden onset severe abdominal pain that is continuous
- Vaginal bleeding (antepartum haemorrhage)- darker in colour
- Shock (hypotension and tachycardia)
- Abnormalities on the CTG indicating fetal distress
- Characteristic “woody” abdomen on palpation, suggesting a large haemorrhage