Antenatal Obstetrics 2 Flashcards
Epidemiology of itchiness?
• Up to 25% of pregnancies
Aetiology of itchiness?
o May be liver related (gallstones, hepatits, HELLP) or pruritic eruption of pregnancy
o Generalised can be eczema, urticaria, scabies, etc
o Localised – candidiasis, pediculosis pubis
Symptoms/Signs of itchiness?
• PEP
o Intensely itchy papular/plaque rask on abdomen and limbs
o Common in first pregnancy beyond 35 weeks
o If vesicles, think pemphigoid gestationis
Investigations of itchiness?
- Check for jaundice, problematic
- Assess LFTs and bile salts
- Urinalysis
Treatment of itchiness?
- If liver pathology – get expert help promptly
- PEP
o Emollients and weak topical steroids
Epidemiology of ankle oedema?
• Very common, almost normal
Symptoms/Signs of ankle oedema?
• Swelling, worse towards end of day
Investigations of ankle oedema?
- BP
- Urinalysis – protein
- Check DVT
DDx of ankle oedema?
• Rule out pre-eclampsia
Treatment of ankle oedema?
- Rest and leg elevation
- Reassure harmless
Epidemiology, symptoms and treatment of leg cramps?
- 30% affects, often latter half of pregnancy
- Pain worse at night, can be severe
- Raise foot of bed, pillows
- Adequate Na and hydration
Epidemiology of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy?
- Nausea = 80 – 85%
- Vomiting = 52%
- 20% persist after 20 weeks
- Believed to be caused by hormones of pregnancy, especially hCG.
- Can occur throughout the day
Symptoms and signs of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy?
- Normally begins between 4th and 7th weeks gestation, peaks between 9th and 16th weeks and resolves around 20th week of pregnancy
- Persistent vomiting and severe nausea can progress to hyperemesis gravidarum
Treatment of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy?
- Frequent small meals
- Reassure, encourage stress-free environment
- Keep hydrated
- May need antiemetics
Epidemiology, aetiology and symptoms of vaginitis?
• Common in pregnancy and often harder to treat
o Due to candidiasis
o Normal vaginal discharge may be heavier during pregnancy but need to exclude infection
• Itch, non-offensive white discharge associated with excoriations
Investigations and treatment of vaginitis?
- Swabs can be taken
- Imidazole vaginal pessaries
Epidemiology of hyperemesis gravidarum?
• Hyperemesis gravidarum is rare, with an incidence of 1/1000.
Pathology of hyperemesis gravidarum?
- Defined as persistent vomiting in pregnancy which causes weight loss (>5% of pre-pregnancy weight) and ketosis
- Thought to be due to high levels of hCG
Aetiology of hyperemesis gravidarum?
• Risk increased:
o Multiple pregnancies
o Molar pregnancies
o Previous HG
Symptoms and signs of hyperemesis gravidarum?
- Inability to keep food or fluids down
- Severe Vomiting
- Weight loss
- Dehydration
- Hypovolaemia
- Tachycardia
- Electrolyte imbalance (low Na, low K, low B vitamins)
- Haematemesis (Mallory-weiss tears)
- Behavioural disorders
- Ptyalism (inability to swallow)
Complications of hyperemesis gravidarum?
- Maternal risks
Liver and renal failure
Hyponatraemia and rapid reversal of hyponatraemia leading to central pontine myelinosis.
Thiamine deficiency may lead to Wernicke’s encephalopathy.
- Fetal risks
Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR)
Fetal death may ensure in cases with Wernicke’s encephalopathy
Investigations of hyperemesis gravidarum?
- Urinalysis – detect for ketones in urine.
- MSU to exclude UTI • FBC (high HCT)
- U&E (Low K+, Na+, Metabolic hypochloraemic alkalosis)
- LFT (high transaminases, low albumin)
- Glucose
- USS to exclude multiple and molar pregnancies and confirm viable intrauterine pregnancy
DDx of hyperemesis gravidarum?
- Multiple pregnancy.
- Molar pregnancy.
- UTI
Initial treatment of severe hyperemesis gravidarum?
- Admit if not tolerating oral fluid
- NG feeds and reintroduce light diet slowly
- IV fluids (NaCl or Hartmann’s)
- VTE prophylaxis – enoxaparin SC, stockings
- Psychological support required
Drug management of hyperemesis gravidarum? What about in severe?
- Thiamine (thiamine hydrochloride 25-50mg PO TDS or thiamine 100mg IV infusion weekly)
- Folic Acid 5mg/day
- Antiemetics (regular or PRN) – Cyclizine, prochlorperazine, metoclopramide PO/IV/IM
- Daily U&Es – replace Na and K+ if necessary.
- Severe - prednisolone 40-50mg PO daily in divided doses or hydrocortisone 100mg/12h IV
Epidemiology of SFD?
- 10% of babies are below the 10th centile.
- 3% are below the 3rd centile for that gestation.
Definitions of SFD? What are the majority of SFD babies?
o Estimated foetal weight <10th centile for gestational age or abdominal circumference <10th centile
o Severe SFD - estimated foetal weight <3rd centile.
o The foetus is small for the expected size but continues to grow at a normal rate
o 50–70% of SGA fetuses are constitutionally small, with fetal growth appropriate for maternal size and ethnicity
Definitions of pre-term baby?
o Born before 37th week
Definition of IUGR? different types?
• IUGR – failure of growth in utero, may or may not result in baby being SGA
o Symmetrical – all growth parameters equally small, suggesting affected at early pregnancy, usually chromosomal abnormalities
o Asymmetrical – Weight centile < length and head circumference, usually due to IUGR and insult later in pregnancy
Complications of SFD?
o Risk of foetal death, congenital infections, hypoglycaemia, hypothermia, polycythaemia, NEC, meconium aspiration
o Higher incidence of cerebral palsy
Major risk factors for SFD?
Age >40, smoker, cocaine, previous SGA/stillbirth, FHx SGA, hypertension, DM, renal impairment, pre-eclampsia
Minor risk factors for SFD?
Nulliparity, BMI<20, IVF, PIH
Causes of IUGR?
o Poverty
o Constitutional
o Twins
o Infection, placental insufficiency (heart disease, hypertension, DM, smoking, sickle cell disease, pre-eclmpsia)
Symptoms and signs of SFD baby?
- Identified on scans
- <2.5kg baby, <10th centile for foetal age
- Wrinkly, umbilical cord thin
Investigations for SFD/IUGR?
• Referral to consultant
o Foetal USS makes the diagnosis of SFD - measures head and abdominal circumferences
o Uterine artery Doppler if 3 or more risk factors and if abnormal, serial growth scans
o Foetal blood sampling or amniocentesis used to exclude chromosomal abnormalities
• BP and urinalysis – check for pre-eclampsia.
Diagnosing IUGR baby?
o Serial USS growth scans (2-3 weeks) and umbilical artery Doppler
o Monitoring weekly umbilical artery Doppler and daily CTG
Management of SFD?
- Growth scans at fortnightly intervals.
o If Dopplers remain normal, no intervention but IOL at 37 weeks
o If Dopplers abnormal and preterm – delivery depends on ductus venosus Doppler
o If absent or reversed end-diastolic flow on Doppler – emergency LSCS
- Corticosteroids for lung maturity up to 35+6 weeks
Labour management of IUGR?
o Transfer to centre with facilities for premature infants
o Ensure adequate resuscitation
o Take to NICU/SCBU
o May need supplemental milk if <2kg
o Tube or IV feeding
Post-birth management of SFD?
o Wrap up warm, encourage skin-to-skin contact
o Feed within 2h of birth
Outcomes of SFD?
o 90% of SGA catch up in first 2 years
o May be smaller as an adult
o Risk of CHD and obesity
Definition of LFD?
o Baby >90/95th centile in weight for gestation
Macrosomia definition?
o Excessive intrauterine growth beyond a specific threshold regardless of gestational age
o >4000/4500 g.