Equine - Dystocia and Postpartum Complication Flashcards
What are the different forms/causes of dystocia?
A slow or difficult labor and delivery, failure to progress in labor, and a pathological labor
What can cause failure to progress in labor?
improper cervical dilation or the offspring does not descend through the pelvis following full dilation
What can cause a pathological labor?
An obstruction or constriction of the birth canal or abnormal size, shape, position or condition of the fetus
What is the etiology of dystocia?
Uterine dysfunction, fetal-maternal mismatch, abnormal fetal presentation, position, and posture, abnormal fetal anatomy, and polytoccus (multiple fetuses) pregnancy
What are the maternal causes of dystocia?
uterine inertia, inability to strain, and obstruction of the birth canal
What are the different forms of uterine inertia?
primary and secondary
What is primary uterine inertia?
uterine contractions fail to ever be initiated
What can cause primary uterine inertia?
myometrial defects, biochemical deficiencies, hysteria/environmental disturbance, deficient/excessive amnionic fluid
What is secondary uterine inertia?
uterine contractions cease after a period of time but before labor is completed
What can cause secondary uterine inertia?
uterine damage and metabolic exhaustion
What can cause a mare to be unable to strain?
age/parity, pain, weakness, and diaphragmatic, tracheal, or laryngeal damage
What can cause obstruction to the birth canal?
boney pelvis, soft tissue obstruction (vulva, vagina, cervix, and uterus)
What are the fetal causes of dystocia?
hormone deficiency, feto-pelviic disproportion, maldisposition, and fetal death
What is the first step of managing a dystocia?
obstetric examination - restrain and clean the patient and do a vaginal examination
What are the three Ps?
presentation, position, and posture
What is presentation?
the relationship between the long axis of the fetus and the long axis of the maternal birth canal
What are the different presentations a foal can have?
longitudinal (anterior or posterior), transverse (ventral or dorsal), and vertical (rare)
What is position?
the location of the surface of the maternal birth canal to which the fetal vertebral column is applied
What are the different positions a foal could have?
dorso-sacral, dorso-pubic, or dorso-iliac (right or left)
What is posture?
The disposition of the head and limbs of the fetus - flexed or extended
If a foal is described to be dog sitting in the womb, how is it positioned?
It has anterior longitudinal presentation, dorso-sacral position, and bilateral hip flexion in anterior presentation
If a foal is described to be breeched (true breech), what is the position that it is in?
it is posterior presentation, the hind limbs are extended forward , the forelimbs are flexed, and the head is extended
What is the normal PPP?
Anterior longitudinal presentation, dorso-sacral position, and complete extension of the head and fore limbs
What is the normal posterior presentation PPP?
Posterior longitudinal presentation, dorso-sacral position, and complete extension of the hindlimbs
What is the PPP for complete down deviation of the head?
Anterior longitudinal presentation, dorso-sacral position, and complete down deviation of the head
What is the PP for ventral position in posterior presentation?
posterior longitudinal presentation, dorso-pubic (ventral) position, flexed hind limbs
What are the different types of treatment for dystocia?
Conservative treatment (uncommon), drug therapy, manipulative treatment, surgical treatment, fetotomy, and euthanasia
What drugs can be used for dystocia management?
Oxytocin, Ca borogluconate, Ca gluconate, Ca lactate, glucose
Why would you use oxytocin to manage dystocia?
to increase myometrial activity
Why would you use calcium and glucose in the management of dystocia?
to correct a chemical imbalance
What are the two types of delivery that can be done with manipulative treatment?
Assisted vaginal delivery - light sedation, standing/lying down
Controlled vaginal delivery - general anesthesia, laying down/hoisted
What are the different types of manipulative treatment?
mutation, repulsion/repelling (retropulsion), and rotation
What is mutation manipulation?
it is correction of fetal malposition