Gynaecology Flashcards
what is a missed miscarriage?
the fetus is no longer alive but no symptoms have occurred
what is an inevitable miscarriage?
vaginal bleeding with an open cervix
what is an incomplete miscarriage?
retained products of conception remain in the uterus after the miscarriage
what is a threatened miscarriage?
vaginal bleeding with a closed cervix and the fetus remains alive
how is a miscarriage diagnosed?
transvaginal ultrasound
what are the 3 features used for assessing the viability of a pregnancy?
mean gestational sac diameter
fetal pole and crown rump length
fetal heartbeat
what do you do when the mean gestational sac diameter is over 25mm and there is no fetal pole?
repeat the scan a week later, if there is still no fetal pole an anembryonic pregnancy can be confirmed
what do you do if the crown rump length is over 7mm without a fetal heartbeat?
repeat the scan a week later, if there is still no fetal heartbeat a non viable pregnancy can be confirmed
management of miscarriage in a pregnancy <6 weeks
women with pregnancy<6 weeks presenting with bleeding can be managed expectantly provided they haven pain, complications or risk factors (previous ectopic).
expectant management involved awaiting the miscarriage without investigations or treatment (ultrasound is unhelpful)
a repeat urine pregnancy test is performed after 7-10 days, if negative miscarriage can be confirmed
options for management of miscarriage if >6 weeks gestation
ultrasound to confirm the location and viability of the pregnancy and to exclude ectopic
expectant management: 1-2 weeks given to allow miscarriage to occur. repeat pregnancy test after 3 weeks to confirm miscarriage is complete
medical management: misoprostol- can be given orally or vaginally
surgical management: manual vacuum aspiration with local anaesthetic or electric vacuum aspiration under general anaesthetic
what is misoprostol?
prostaglandin analogue. it softens the cervix and stimulates uterine contraction. used in medical management of miscarriage
what are risk factors for ectopic pregnancy?
previous ectopic pregnancy previous PID previous surgery to the Fallopian tube intrauterine devices older age smoking tubal tying endometriosis IVF
how does ectopic pregnancy typically present?
typically presents around 6-8 weeks gestation
missed period
constant lower abdominal pain in the iliac fossa
vaginal bleeding
lower abdominal or pelvic tenderness
cervical motion tenderness
may also have dizziness or syncope, shoulder tip pain (peritonitis)
how to distinguish a tubal ectopic pregnancy from a corpus luteum?
a tubal ectopic pregnancy will move separately to the ovary
a corpus luteum will move with the ovary
what does a rise of less than 63% in serum hCG in 48 hours indicate?
ectopic pregnancy
what is the criteria for expectant management of ectopic pregnancy?
follow up must be possible to ensure successful termination unruptured ectopic adnexal mass <35mm no visible heart beat no significant pain hCG level <1500IU/L
what is used for medical management of ectopic pregnancy?
methotrexate, given as IM injection into the buttock
what are the options for surgical management of ectopic pregnancy
laparoscopic salpingectomy- 1st line. involves removal of affected Fallopian tube
laparoscopic salpingoctomy- used in women at increased risk of infertility due to damage to the other tube. the ectopic pregnancy is removed and tube is preserved
what is a molar pregnancy?
a type of tumour that grows like a pregnancy in the uterus. either forms when 2 sperm cells fertilise an ovum which contains no genetic material (complete mole) or 2 sperm cells fertilise a normal ovum at the same time (partial mole)
what does a snowstorm appearance on an ultrasound indicate?
molar pregnancy
how is molar pregnancy managed?
evacuation of the uterus to remove the mole- send products for histological examination
refer to gestational trophoblastic disease centre for management and follow up
monitor hCG levels until they normalise
what are the types of fibroids?
intramural- within the myometrium- most common
subserosal- just below the outer layer of the uterus. can grow outwards and fill the abdominal cavity
submucosal- just below the endometrium
pendunculated- on a stalk
how do fibroids present?
menorrhagia prolonged menstruation- >7 days abdo pain bloating urinary or bowel symptoms due to pelvic pressure deep dyspareunia reduced fertility
investigations in fibroids
hysteroscopy
pelvic ultrasound
MRI scan- may be considered before surgical options
medical management of fibroids
mirena coil- 1st line but fibroids must be less than 3cm with no distortion of the uterus
symptomatic management- NSAIDs and tranexamic acid
COCP, cyclical oral progesterones
surgical management of fibroids
endometrial ablation
resection of submucosal fibroids during hysteroscopy
uterine artery embolisation
myomectomy- surgical removal of the fibroid
hysterectomy
GnRH agonists (goserelin) may be used to reduce size of fibroids before surgery
what is red degeneration of a fibroid?
ischaemia, infarction and necrosis of the fibroid due to disrupted blood supply.
more likely to occur in larger fibroids during the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy.
presents with severe abdominal pain, low grade fever, tachycardia, and vomiting
management of red degeneration of the fibroid
supportive with rest fluids and analgesia
investigations for endometrial polyps
transvaginal ultrasound
hysteroscopy
endometrial biopsy
what are risk factors for endometrial hyperplasia?
caused by excessive oestrogen without opposition with progesterone obesity exogenous oestrogen use oestrogen secreting ovarian tumour tamoxifen use PCOS nulliparity
definitive diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia
pipelle endometrial biopsy biopsy
how is endometrial hyperplasia managed?
progesterone treatment- mirena coil or continuous oral progesterone
hysterectomy- 1st line in atypical hyperplasia and not wanting children
pathophysiology of pain in endometrisis?
during menstruation the endometrial tissue sheds causing irritation and inflammation of the tissues around the sites of endometriosis resulting in cyclical pain during menstruation. localised inflammation can lead to adhesions which can lead to chronic non-cyclical pain
what do the symptoms of dysmenorrhea, deep dyspareunia, and haematuria together suggest?
endometriosis
haematuria due to endometrial tissue in the bladder
what is the gold standard investigation for endometriosis?
investigative laparoscopy
management of endometriosis
hormonal management- COCP, progesterone only pill, mirena coil, nexplanon implant
surgical management- laparoscopy, hysterectomy
how are cervical polyps usually treated?
usually found incidentally during a cervical smear
usually removed at the time using polyp forceps to twist the polyp off
may take a biopsy to make sure it is not cancerous