Haemorrhagic Conditions of Early Pregnancy

Question 1

A fetus is considered not viable or compatible with life if they are less than ____ weeks of age.

Answer 1

20

Question 2

The most common cause of spontaneous abortion:

Answer 2

Congenital abnormalities that are often incompatible with life

Question 3

The first sign of threatened abortion is:

Answer 3

Vaginal bleeding

Question 4

What does it mean if vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy is followed by symptoms of uterine cramping, persistent backache or feelings of pelvic pressure?

Answer 4

Loss of pregnancy is more likely

Question 5

True or False: Its normal to have some light spotting or bleeding during the 1st trimester of pregnancy, especially if the mother is a primigravid.

Answer 5

FALSE, any bleeding during the first half of pregnancy must be considered a threatened abortion and reported immediately.

Question 6

What is an important nursing intervention to reduce anxiety and assuage feelings of guilt when a woman has a threatened abortion?

Answer 6

Nurses should offer accurate information and avoid false reassurance.

Question 7

This is a procedure used to clean uterine walls and remove remaining uterine contents.

Answer 7

Dilation and Curettage

Question 8

A dilation and curettage is performed to evacuate retained tissue because this keeps the uterus from contracting firmly. A uterus that is soft or non-contracted poses what risk?

Answer 8

It allows profuse bleeding from uterine blood vessels

Question 9

Name two medications and their route of administration that may be administered to promote uterine contraction and control bleeding

Answer 9

IV oxytocin or IM methylergonovine (Methergine)

Question 10

Name a drug that can be used to induce expulsion of a dead fetus during the 2nd trimester

Answer 10

Prostaglandin E or misoprostol (Cytotec)

Question 11

Name three triggering factors for DIC:

Answer 11

Placental bleeding

Abortion, especially if infected

Retained products of conception

Tissue injury

Question 12

What are the two main complications of DIC?

Answer 12

Organ damage due to the widespread clot formation

Massive bleeding because platelets and clotting factors are used up in the widespread coagulation

Question 13

What is the most sensitive diagnostic test for DIC?

Answer 13

D-dimer serum assay which measures fibrin degradation products