Abdominal pain in pregnancy Flashcards
what is the most important cause you need to r/o in early pregnancy
ectopic
risk factors
damage to tubes (salpingitis, surgery)
previous ectopic
IVF (3% of pregnancies are ectopic)
typical ectopic history
A typical history is a female with a history of 6-8 weeks amenorrhoea who presents with lower abdominal pain and later develops vaginal bleeding
symptoms
lower abdominal pain
vaginal bleeding
history of recent amenorrhoea
peritoneal bleeding
what is usually the 1st symptom?
lower abdominal pain
what is the character of the lower abdominal pain?
pain is constant and unilateral
due to tubal spasm
what is the vaginal bleeding like during
usually less than normal period
maybe dark brown
what can peritoneal bleeding cause?
shoulder tip pain
pain on defecation/urination
when does a threatened miscarriage occur?
before 24 weeks
typically 6-9 weeks
what happens to cervical os in a threatened miscarriage?
cervical os is closed
what is a missed (delayed) miscarriage?
a gestational sac which contains a dead fetus before 20 weeks without the symptoms of expulsion
is there any vaginal bleeding/discharge with a missed/delayed miscarriage?
light vaginal bleeding / discharge and the symptoms of pregnancy which disappear
what is a blighted ovum or an embryonic pregnancy?
gestational sac is > 25 mm and no embryonic/fetal part can be seen it is sometimes
what happens to the cervical os in an inevitable miscarriage?
open
what is the bleeding like in an inevitable miscarriage?
heavy bleeding and clots
what is the pain like in an inevitable miscarriage?
a lot of pain
what is an incomplete miscarriage?
not all products of conception have been expelled
what is placental abruption?
separation of a normally sited placenta from the uterine wall, resulting in maternal haemorrhage into the intervening space
what is the pain like in placental abruption?
constant
tender
tense uterus
what is the foetal heart like in placental abruption?
absent/distressed
other features of placental abruption?
shock
normal lie and presentation
coagulation problems
pre-eclampsia, dic, anuria
what is symphysis pubis dysfunction?
Ligament laxity increases in response to hormonal changes of pregnancy
Pain over the pubic symphysis with radiation to the groins and the medial aspects of the thighs.
what gait is seen in symphysis pubis dysfunction?
waddling gait
what is pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome associated with?
hypertension
proteinuria