Gynaecology: Early Complications of Pregnancy Flashcards
What are the most common problems of early pregnancy?
- Miscarriage
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Gestational trophoblastic disease
- Hyperemesis Gravidarum
What are the four/five kinds of miscarriage?
- Threatened
- Inevitable
- Incomplete
- Complete
(can also have a Septic miscarriage)
Define a threatened miscarriage?
Bleeding and/or pain up to the 24th week with a viable ongoing pregnancy
Define an inevitable miscarriage?
Open cervix, but products of conception have not yet been passed, but they inevitably will
What is an incomplete miscarriage?
When some POC have been passed but some tissue and/or blood clots remain within the uterus.
Cervix remains open.
USS definition = Echogenic mass of blood clot and tissue within the uterine cavity >20 mm
How does a Septic miscarriage occur?
Incomplete miscarriage where the POC have become infected (rare as tend to get removed quickly).
When is a miscarriage complete?
If all products of conception have been passed. Bleeding and pain begin to reduce, cervix begins to close.
Uterine cavity = empty, AP <20m
What is the term for a failed pregnancy with no cardiac pulsations on USS?
Missed miscarriage/ Early fetal demise
What do you call a failed pregnancy with empty gestation sac?
Blighted ovum/ Anembryonic pregnancy.
How will a woman with a miscarriage present?
Vaginal bleeding +/- abdominal pain.
She may or may not know about pregnancy.
What examination signs point towards suspicion of miscarriage?
- Blood from cervical os
- Intense bleeding
- Presence of clots or tissue fragments
- Internal cervical os can be open (as in incomplete or inevitable MC) or closed (as in threatened MC)
For a missed miscarriage, the only sign may be lack of foetal heart sounds on CTG.
When are miscarriages most common, what is normally the cause?
- First trimester (before 13th week)
- Normally foetal abnormality (chromosomal, congenital)
- However aetiology is rarely established.
2T miscarriages are more commonly maternal factors e.g. SLE or APLS, infection,, poorly controlled diabetes,
What are the risk factors for miscarriage?
- Advanced maternal age
- Previous miscarriage
- Smoking
- Alcohol (moderate to heavy)
- NSAIDs, ASPIRIN
- Folate deficiency
- Consanguinity
What are the conservative management options for a woman miscarrying?
- Just wait for all POC to pass naturally, usually over a 2 week span.
- Must have 24 hour access to gynae services
What are the pros and cons of conservative management for miscarriage?
Pros:
- Avoids risk of surgery and medication
- Allows women to be at home during an incredibly difficult time
Cons:
- Pain and bleeding are unpredictable, risk of rapid escalation
- Being at home may be more worrying
- Takes longer
- May be unsuccessful and still require active management
What maternal factors can lead to miscarriage?
- Uncontrolled diabetes
- SLE
- Antiphospholipid syndrome
- Thrombophilia
- Acute illness/ infection
- Uterine anomalies
Outline the medical management of miscarriage?
MERPC
- Drugs are used to empty the uterus
- 85%+ successful
- On day 1 give Mifepristone (anti-progesterone)
- On day 3 give Misoprostol (prostaglandin)
What classes of drugs are given in miscarriage?
Anti-progesterone (Mifepristone) + Prostaglandins (Misoprostol)
What are the pros and cons of managing miscarriage medically?
Pros:
- Avoids surgery
- High satisfaction if successful
- Can be done as outpatient in some centres
Cons:
- Pain and bleeding may be unpleasant and/or severe
- Drugs can have side effects
- Need for emergency surgical management isn’t negligible (around 5%)