Bleeding in Late Pregnancy Flashcards
What constitutes late pregnancy?
> 24 weeks
What can cause an antepartum haemorrhage?
vasa previa placenta previa placental abruption uterine rupture cystitis haemorrhoids
How common is antepartum haemorrhage?
3-5% of pregnancies
What is an antepartum haemorrhage?
bleeding from the genital tract after 24 weeks gestation + before the end of the second stage of labour
What are the functions of the placenta?
gas transfer
metabolism/waste disposal
protective filter
hormone production - HPL
What ml of blood quantifies a minor APH?
<50ml
What ml of blood quantifies a major APH?
50-1000ml
What ml of blood quantifies a massive APH?
> 1000ml and/or shock
What is placental abruption?
separation of a normally implanted placenta - partially or totally before the birth of the foetus
What % of APHs are placental abruptions?
40%
What is the pathophysiology behind placental abruptions?
vasospasm followed by an arteriole rupture into the decidua
blood escapses into the amniotic sac of further under the placenta and into the myometrium
this cause. tonic contraction which causes pain and interrupts placental circulation
What does placental abruption result in?
couverlaire uterus - blueish appearance
What are the risk factors for placental abruption?
mostly unknown PET blunt or forceful trauma smoking/cocaine/amphetamine medical thrombophilias/renal disease/diabetes polyhydroamnios/mutliple pregnancies/pre term rupture of membranes abnormal placenta previous abruption - 10% recurrence rate
What are the symptoms of placental abruption?
continuous severe abdominal pain maternal collapse backache with posterior placenta bleeding preterm labour
What are the signs of placental abruption?
HARD WOODY TENDERNESS unwell, distressed patient, fetal parts hard to identify - heart sounds bradycardic or absent CTG shows irritable uterus preterm labour w/ heavy show
How is placental abruption managed?
resuscitate mother
assess and deliver baby
2 large bore IV access cannulas, cross match 4-6 units red packed cells
if stable - induce labour by amniotomy
if unstable - delivery by catagory 1 c/section
steroids for baby
What are maternal complications of placental abruption?
hypovolaemic shock PPH - 25% anaemia renal failure coagulopathy infection thromboembolism
What are foetal complications of placental abruption?
death - 14% hypoxia prematurity SGA growth restriction
How can placental abruption be prevented?
smoking cessation
APS - give LDA
stop drug misuse
What % of APHs are placenta previa?
20%
What is placenta previa?
placenta lies directly over the internal os
after 16weeks the term low lying placenta is used when the placental edge is less than 20mm from the internal os
How far away from the internal os is the placenta usualy?
7cm
What are the characteristics of the lower segment of the placenta?
thinner
contains less muscle fibres than the upper segment
doesnt contract in labour, it passively dilates
What are the risk factors of placenta previa?
previous placenta previa smoking c/section delivery assisted reproduction multiparty previous TOP deficient endometrium due to presence of uterine scars or endometritis
When is placenta previa screened for?
mid trimester fetal anomaly scan - 20 weeks