Antepartum haemorrhage Flashcards
What roles does the placenta play for the foetus?
Sole source of nutrition from 6 weeks
Has functions including:
- Gas transfer
- Metabolism/waste disposal
- Hormone production (HPL & hGh-V)
- Protective ‘filter’
What is antepartum haemorrhage (APH)?
Bleeding from the genital tract after 24 weeks gestation and before the end of the second stage of labour
i.e. >24/40 and before baby delivered
Commonest causes of APH?
Placenta praevia
Placental abruption
Aetiology (causes) of APH?
Placental Problems - Placenta Praevia, Placental Abruption
Uterine problem - rupture
Vasa Praevia
Indeterminate
Local cause - ectropion, cancer, polyp, infection.
What can APH be mistaken for?
Bloody show (cervix preparing for labour, opening of cervix causes rupture of surrounding blood vessels).
Urinary tract related problems
Haemorrhoids
How is APH quantified?
By a measure of how much bleeding experienced by the woman after 24 weeks gestation.
Spotting = Staining, streaking, wiping.
Minor = <50ml settled
Major = 50-1000ml no shock
Massive= >1000ml and/or shock
What is placental abruption?
refers to when the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus during pregnancy.
The site of attachment can bleed extensively after the placenta separates.
Placental abruption is a significant cause of antepartum haemorrhage.
Risk factors for placental abruption?
Previous placental abruption
Pre-eclampsia
Bleeding early in pregnancy
Trauma (consider domestic violence)
Multiple pregnancy
Fetal growth restriction
Multigravida (pregnant for at least 2nd time)
Increased maternal age
Smoking
Cocaine or amphetamine use
Underlying pathology of placental abruption?
Vasospasm followed by arteriole rupture into the decidua; blood escapes into the amniotic sac or further under the placenta and into myometrium
Causes tonic contraction and interrupts placental circulation which causes hypoxia
Results in Couvelaire uterus
What is Couvelaire uterus?
When retroplacental blood after abruption penetrates through the uterine wall into the peritoneal cavity.
Uterus becomes tense and rigid.
Myometrium becomes weakened and may rupture due to increase in pressure from contractions. Both mother and baby lives at risk
Symptoms of placental abruption?
Sudden onset severe abdominal pain that is continuous
Vaginal bleeding (antepartum haemorrhage)
Shock (hypotension and tachycardia)
Abnormalities on the CTG indicating foetal distress
Characteristic “woody” abdomen on palpation, suggesting a large haemorrhage
What is a concealed abruption?
The cervical os remains closed, and any bleeding that occurs remains within the uterine cavity.
The severity of bleeding can be significantly underestimated with concealed haemorrhage.
Difference between concealed and revealed abruption?
Revealed abruption is when the blood loss is observed via the vagina
There are some reliable tests that can be done to diagnose placental abruption. true/false?
False
Clinical diagnosis of placental abruption is based on patients clinical presentation
Placental abruption is an obstetric emergency, what factors influence urgency of treatment?
Depends on:
- The amount of placental separation
- Extent of the bleeding
- Haemodynamic stability of the mother - Condition of the foetus
Initial management of major or massive haemorrhage?
- Urgent involvement of a senior obstetrician, midwife and anaesthetist
- 2 x grey cannula
- Bloods include FBC, UE, LFT and coagulation studies
- Crossmatch 4 units of blood
- Fluid and blood resuscitation as required
- CTG monitoring of the foetus
- Close monitoring of the mother
Is USS useful in APH?
Can be useful in excluding placenta praevia as a cause for antepartum haemorrhage, but is not very good at diagnosing or assessing abruption.
What do rhesus-D negative women require when bleeding occurs and what test is used to quantify dose needed?
Rhesus-D negative women require anti-D prophylaxis when bleeding occurs.
A Kleihauer test is used to quantify how much foetal blood is mixed with the maternal blood, to determine the dose of anti-D that is required.
What is placenta praevia?
The placenta is attached in the lower portion of the uterus, lower than the presenting part of the foetus.
Praevia directly translates from Latin as “going before”.