Antepartum haemorrhage Flashcards
What is antepartum haemorrhage?
Bleeding from the genital tract after 24 weeks gestation.
What are the causes of APH?
Common: undetermined origin, placental abruption, placenta praaevia
Uncommon: incidental genital tract pathology, uterine rupture, vasa praaevia and placenta praevia
What is placenta praaevia?
Placenta praevia occurs when the placenta is implanted in the lower segment of the uterus.
Why does the placenta tend to move during the pregnancy?
Because of the formation of the lower segment of the uterus in the third trimester: it is the myometrium where the placenta implants that moves away from he internal cervical os.
How (not into what) is placenta praevia classified?
According to the proximity of the placenta to the internal os of the cervix. It may be predominantly on the anterior or posterior uterine wall.
What is a marginal placenta praevia?
Placenta in lower segment, not over os
What is a major placenta praevia?
Placenta completely or partially covering the os
What risk factors are there for placenta praevia?
Twins, high parity and age, scarred uterus
What complications occur due to a placenta praevia?
The placenta in the lower segment obstructs engagement of the head. Haemorrhage can be severe.
Why is there haemorrhage in placenta praevia?
The lower segment of the uterus is unable to contract and constrict the maternal blood supply so the haemorrhage can be severe and may continue during and after delivery.
What is placenta accreta?
Placenta accreta occurs when all or part of the placenta attaches abnormally to the myometrium (the muscular layer of the uterine wall).
How does placenta praevia lead to placenta accreta?
If a placenta implants into a previous C section scar, it may be so deep as to prevent placental separation
What is placenta percreta?
When the placenta invades through the uterine wall and into surrounding structures such as the bladder
What are the clinical features of placenta praevia?
Intermittent painless bleeds, which increase in frequency and intensity over several weeks. Such bleeding may be severe. 1/3 of women do not experience bleeding.
What would you find on examination of placenta praevia?
Breech presentation and transverse lie are common. The fetal head is not engaged and high. Vaginal examination can provoke massive bleeding and is never performed in a woman who is bleeding vaginally until exclusion of placenta praevia.
How do you investigate placenta praevia?
US, CTG to assess fetal well-being
How do you manage placenta praevia?
Admission in all women with bleeding. Often after confirmation, women are admitted until delivery due to bleeding risk. Blood is kept available, potential anti-D and steroids
How are placenta praevias delivered?
Elective C section at 39 weeks by most senior doctor available. Bleeding is common. Uterine incision is made away from the placenta.
What is placental abruption?
Placental abruption is when part (or all) of the placenta separates before delivery the fetus. It occurs in 1% of pregnancies.
What is the pathology of placental abruption?
When part of the placenta separates, considerable maternal bleeding may occur behind it. Further placental separation and acute fetal distress may follow.
Where does the blood from the placental separation usually go in a placental abruption?
Blood usually tracks down between the membranes and the myometrium to be revealed as an APH. It may also enter the liquor or it may just enter the myometrium.
Is APH always visible?
No, it 20% it is absent as the blood only enters the myometrium.