Cardiovascular System Flashcards
What are the cardiac anatomical changes in pregnancy
Heart is pushed up by diaphragm
Apex of heart Moves from 5th intercostal space to 4th
Heat volume increases from 70-80ml
There is enhanced myocardial performance
What are the physiological changes in pregnancy cardiac?
Total blood volume increases by 45% to 50%
Why does the total blood volume increase
Meets demands of the enlarged uterus and to provide extra blood flow for the placenta
Supply extra metabolic needs of the fetus
Protect the woman and fetus against the potential harmful effects of impaired venous return
What specifically increases in the blood
Plasma increases by 45%
R.B.Cs increase by 20%
Prolactin, progesterone, HPL and oestrogen stimulate the release of erythropoietin which stimulates the production of RBCs
How does physiological anaemia of pregnancy occur?
Volume of plasma increase more faster than the amount of RBCs so they are diluted: haemodilution
Resulting in physiological anaemia of pregnant
What are changes in regional blood distribution
Uterus: increases 1000%
Kidneys in early pregnancy
Skin (hands and feet)
Liver
Breasts
Define Peripheral vasodilation and what does it result in
Increase in diameter of peripheral blood vessels
Results in increased fingernail growth, nasal congestion and increased rate of hair growth and less hair flows out
What does vasodilation result in under the effects of oestrogen and progesterone
May cause or worsen varicosities in the leg viens or vulva, and haemorrhoids, as the smooth muscle around the veins relaxes
Oxygen consumption increases by
20-30% as increased oxygen demands of fetus
how does the cardiac output change
Increase 30-50%
Peripheral resistance
Decreases, 20-30%
BP
decrees begins at 5 weeks gestation, reaches lowest post second trimester (21%) then rises at term
Supine hypotension
Inferior vena cavacompressed by gravid uterus, decrease in cardiac output (25-30%) which leads to an increase in heart rate
