LE4 Feeds (OB) Flashcards
- The mainstay in the management of preeclampsia with severe features is:
A. Hydralazine
B. MgSO4
C. Furosemide
D. Aspirin
B. MgSO4
Rationale: Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is the drug of choice for preventing convulsions in preeclampsia with severe features. It works by stabilizing excitable membranes, reducing the risk of eclampsia, and has neuroprotective effects.
- Severe features of preeclampsia include:
A. Intrauterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
B. Double increase of uric acid levels
C. Creatinine of 1.1 mg/dL
D. Oligohydramnios
C. Creatinine of 1.1 mg/dL
Rationale: Renal dysfunction indicated by elevated serum creatinine (>1.1 mg/dL) is a criterion for severe preeclampsia. Other severe features include thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, pulmonary edema, and cerebral or visual disturbances.
- If the initial BP is 210/110, what is the target BP to maintain after 4–6 hours?
A. <120/80
B. 140–150/90–100
C. <140/90
D. 130–140/80–90
B. 140–150/90–100
Rationale: The goal in hypertensive emergencies during pregnancy is to reduce BP gradually to prevent end-organ damage while maintaining adequate placental perfusion. Overly rapid drops in BP can lead to fetal compromise.
- A 38-year-old G1P0 at 31 weeks of gestation presents at a clinic with BP 200/120. She reports her highest BP was only 140/90, which she attributes to stress or anger. Impression at this time should be:
A. Chronic hypertension with superimposed preeclampsia
B. Preeclampsia with severe features
C. HELLP syndrome
D. Gestational hypertension
D. Gestational hypertension
Rationale: Gestational hypertension is defined as new-onset hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation without proteinuria or systemic findings indicative of preeclampsia. While the patient’s BP is elevated, there is no mention of proteinuria or other systemic involvement, ruling out preeclampsia or HELLP.
- Hypertension is defined as:
A. BP of more than or equal to 140/90 on 2 consecutive occasions taken 4-6 hours apart
B. BP of more than 150/100 in a single reading
C. BP of more than 130/85 in 3 consecutive readings
D. BP of more than 140/90 measured once
A. BP of more than or equal to 140/90 on 2 consecutive occasions taken 4-6 hours apart
Rationale: Hypertension during pregnancy is defined as a systolic BP ≥ 140 mmHg and/or a diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg confirmed on at least two measurements taken 4–6 hours apart.
- The most plausible etiology of preeclampsia is:
A. Placental implantation with abnormal trophoblastic invasion
B. Genetic predisposition
C. Autoimmune reaction
D. Nutritional deficiency
A. Placental implantation with abnormal trophoblastic invasion
Rationale: The root cause of preeclampsia is thought to be related to abnormal remodeling of the spiral arteries during placental implantation, resulting in placental hypoxia and systemic endothelial dysfunction.
- A pregnant woman with the following characteristics is more likely to develop preeclampsia:
A. Asthmatic
B. Nulligravid
C. Overt diabetic
D. 20–30 years old
C. Overt diabetic
Rationale: Diabetes mellitus is a well-established risk factor for preeclampsia due to its association with endothelial dysfunction and increased inflammatory markers.
- Low-dose aspirin for the prevention of preeclampsia should be started:
A. 8 weeks–20 weeks of gestation
B. Starting 11 weeks–36 and 6 weeks
C. Starting 20 weeks–40 weeks
D. After 36 weeks only
B. Starting 11 weeks–36 and 6 weeks
Rationale: Low-dose aspirin is recommended for women at high risk for preeclampsia starting from 11–14 weeks of gestation up to 36 weeks to reduce the risk of adverse outcomes.
- A 38-year-old with dizziness in the second month of amenorrhea and BP 90/70. How would you classify her condition?
A. Chronic hypertension
B. Most likely to develop preeclampsia
C. Gestational hypertension
D. Chronic hypertension and most likely not develop preeclampsia
B. Most likely to develop preeclampsia
Rationale:
This patient is in the second month of amenorrhea (early pregnancy) with a BP of 90/70 mmHg. This BP is low-normal and consistent with the expected physiologic changes in early pregnancy, such as systemic vasodilation due to hormonal effects (e.g., progesterone). However, low BP early in pregnancy does not exclude the possibility of developing preeclampsia later in pregnancy, particularly in a patient with risk factors or no prior known hypertension.
- A 35-year-old G5P4 (0404) with 3 previous CS, a history of preeclampsia, BMI 31, hypothyroidism, and BP 150/100. How many risk factors for preeclampsia does she have?
5
Rationale: Risk factors for preeclampsia in this case include:
History of preeclampsia
Obesity (BMI ≥ 30)
Hypothyroidism
Multiple previous pregnancies (multiparity)
Hypertension (BP ≥ 140/90)
- A 30-year-old primigravid at 27 weeks by LMP presents with BP 145/90. What is the diagnosis?
A. Gestational hypertension
B. Preeclampsia with severe features
C. Preeclampsia without severe features
D. Chronic hypertension
A. Gestational hypertension
Rationale:
1. Definition of Gestational Hypertension:
• Gestational hypertension is diagnosed when:
• Blood pressure (BP) is ≥140/90 mmHg on two occasions at least 4 hours apart after 20 weeks of gestation.
• There is no proteinuria or signs of end-organ dysfunction.
2. Key Findings in This Case:
• BP is elevated (145/90 mmHg), meeting the threshold for gestational hypertension.
• The patient is at 27 weeks gestation (beyond 20 weeks).
• No mention of proteinuria or other features of preeclampsia.
Why Not the Other Options?
• B. Preeclampsia with severe features:
• Severe features include severe hypertension (≥160/110 mmHg), thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, renal insufficiency, pulmonary edema, or neurologic symptoms. These are not present here.
• C. Preeclampsia without severe features:
• Preeclampsia requires proteinuria (≥300 mg/24-hour urine or protein/creatinine ratio ≥0.3) or evidence of end-organ dysfunction, which are not mentioned in this case.
• D. Chronic hypertension:
• Chronic hypertension is diagnosed when BP is elevated before 20 weeks of gestation or persists >12 weeks postpartum. In this case, the elevated BP was noted after 20 weeks of gestation.
Next Steps in Management:
1. Confirm the diagnosis:
• Repeat BP measurements at least 4 hours apart to confirm sustained
- Laboratory workup significant for the diagnosis of hypertensive disorders in pregnancies includes:
A. Chest X-ray
B. Uric acid
C. Lipid profile
D. Creatinine
D. Creatinine
Rationale: Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, such as preeclampsia, are associated with renal dysfunction. Elevated serum creatinine levels (>1.1 mg/dL or doubling of baseline) are diagnostic of severe preeclampsia. Other tests like uric acid are less specific.
- Impression of HELLP syndrome at 3 weeks. Which management is acceptable?
A. Antihypertensive therapy
B. Expectant management
C. Termination of pregnancy
D. Magnesium sulfate only
C. Termination of pregnancy
Rationale: HELLP syndrome (Hemolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes, and Low Platelets) is a severe manifestation of preeclampsia requiring immediate delivery regardless of gestational age to prevent maternal and fetal complications.
- Which of the following is a severe feature of preeclampsia?
A. 24-hour urine protein <0.3 g
B. Thrombocytopenia >100,000
C. Sudden onset of diplopia
D. AST 12, ALT 28
C. Sudden onset of diplopia
Rationale: Severe features of preeclampsia include visual disturbances (e.g., diplopia), severe thrombocytopenia (<100,000), elevated liver enzymes (AST or ALT ≥70), and renal or pulmonary involvement.
- In which situation is home management of preeclampsia acceptable?
A. Preeclampsia with severe features
B. Preeclampsia without severe features
C. Chronic hypertension with proteinuria
D. Gestational hypertension with pulmonary edema
B. Preeclampsia without severe features
Rationale: Home management is acceptable only in cases of preeclampsia without severe features, as these patients lack signs of end-organ damage and can be closely monitored on an outpatient basis.
- A 15-year-old girl presents with upward rolling of the eyeballs and stiffening of extremities. She has a history of childhood febrile seizures. What is the diagnosis?
A. Eclampsia
B. Febrile seizure
C. Seizure disorder unrelated to pregnancy
D. Status epilepticus
A. Eclampsia
Rationale: In the context of pregnancy, seizures with no prior history of epilepsy and associated hypertensive features strongly suggest eclampsia, requiring urgent treatment with magnesium sulfate and delivery.
- A 15-year-old girl presents with seizures and has a history of febrile seizures. What is the next most important diagnostic investigation?
A. EEG
B. CT scan of the head
C. Pelvic ultrasound
D. Blood cultures
C. Pelvic ultrasound
Rationale: In a female of childbearing age presenting with seizures, pregnancy must be ruled out as it can cause eclampsia. A pelvic ultrasound can confirm pregnancy status and guide further management.
- A 39-year-old at 28 weeks of gestation presents with BP 160/100, fundic height 24 cm, and albuminuria. What is the diagnosis?
A. Gestational hypertension
B. Preeclampsia without severe features
C. Preeclampsia with severe features
D. Chronic hypertension
C. Preeclampsia with severe features
Rationale: Elevated BP ≥160/100, albuminuria, and a discrepancy in fundal height (suggesting fetal growth restriction) are indicators of preeclampsia with severe features.
- A 39-year-old woman presents with shortness of breath, body malaise, and epigastric pain. BP is 150/100, with fundic height 27 cm and fetal heart tone 156 bpm. What is the diagnosis?
A. Acute fatty liver of pregnancy
B. Gestational hypertension
C. HELLP syndrome
D. Severe preeclampsia
C. HELLP syndrome
Rationale: Epigastric pain, elevated BP, and systemic malaise are hallmark features of HELLP syndrome. It is a severe complication of preeclampsia characterized by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets.
- What is the most common genetic cause of abortion?
A. Monosomy
B. Trisomy
C. Polyploidy
D. Structural chromosomal abnormalities
B. Trisomy
Rationale: Trisomy accounts for 50–60% of genetic causes of spontaneous abortions, with common trisomies involving chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 21, and 22. These result from nondisjunction during meiosis.
- A patient had her LMP on January 1, 2023. On internal examination, the cervix is closed, there are no fetal heart tones, and the uterus is enlarged to age of gestation (AoG). What is the diagnosis?
A. Missed abortion
B. Inevitable abortion
C. Complete abortion
D. Threatened abortion
A. Missed abortion
Rationale: A missed abortion is characterized by fetal demise without expulsion of the products of conception. The uterus remains enlarged, and the cervix is closed, with no fetal heart tones on examination.
- A ruptured bag of water with vaginal bleeding and an open cervix indicates:
A. Threatened abortion
B. Complete abortion
C. Inevitable abortion
D. Missed abortion
C. Inevitable abortion
Rationale: Inevitable abortion presents with a ruptured bag of water, vaginal bleeding, and an open cervix. It implies that the pregnancy cannot continue and will inevitably result in miscarriage
- A 24-year-old G2P1 presents with bleeding and placental tissue visible on speculum examination. What is the next best step?
A. Expectant management
B. Admit and perform completion curettage
C. Start misoprostol
D. Observation only
B. Admit and perform completion curettage
Rationale: Visible placental tissue indicates incomplete abortion, requiring uterine evacuation via dilation and curettage to prevent infection or heavy bleeding.
- A 24-year-old G1P0 presents with bleeding. Ultrasound shows a blighted ovum. What is the management?
A. Expectant management
B. Dilation and curettage
C. Spontaneous expulsion
D. Suction curettage
B. Dilation and curettage
Rationale: A blighted ovum (anembryonic pregnancy) occurs when a fertilized egg implants in the uterus, but the embryo does not develop. Dilation and curettage is often performed to remove the nonviable pregnancy.
- A patient with a history of dilation and curettage presents with amenorrhea and a negative pregnancy test. What is the likely diagnosis?
A. Sheehan’s syndrome
B. Asherman syndrome
C. Hypothyroidism
D. Tuberculosis
B. Asherman syndrome
Rationale: Asherman syndrome occurs due to intrauterine adhesions, often after dilation and curettage, leading to menstrual irregularities, including amenorrhea.
- What is the source of progesterone during the first trimester of pregnancy?
A. Corpus luteum
B. Placenta
C. Uterus
D. Ovary
A. Corpus luteum
Rationale: During the first 8 weeks of pregnancy, the corpus luteum is the main source of progesterone, which supports the early pregnancy until the placenta takes over at 8–12 weeks.
- What is the medical management for threatened abortion?
A. Progesterone
B. Estrogen
C. Calcium channel blockers (CCB)
D. Misoprostol
A. Progesterone
Rationale: Progesterone supports the endometrium and maintains early pregnancy. It is used in threatened abortion to reduce the risk of progression to miscarriage.
- What is the usual cause of late abortion?
A. Hypofunction of the corpus luteum
B. Emotional or nervous factors
C. Hypopituitarism
D. Cervical incompetence
D. Cervical incompetence
Rationale: Late abortion (after 12 weeks) is often caused by cervical incompetence, where the cervix prematurely dilates, leading to pregnancy loss. Risk factors include previous trauma or surgery to the cervix.
- Which among the causes of abortion is correct?
A. Infection: autoimmune thyroiditis
B. Anatomic: Asherman’s syndrome
C. Immunologic: Thrombophilias
D. Social: 1 cup of coffee/day
C. Immunologic: Thrombophilias
Rationale: Immunologic factors such as antiphospholipid syndrome or thrombophilias can lead to recurrent pregnancy loss. Other correct causes include infections, anatomical abnormalities, and genetic factors.
- What is the most common site of ectopic pregnancy?
A. Ampulla
B. Isthmic
C. Fimbrial
D. Interstitial
A. Ampulla
Rationale: The ampulla of the fallopian tube is the most common site of ectopic pregnancies, accounting for 70% of cases. This is because fertilization often occurs here, and abnormal implantation is more likely if the zygote fails to travel to the uterus.
- Fifty percent of women with ectopic pregnancies have a history of:
A. Tubal surgery
B. Intrauterine device use
C. Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
D. Prior ectopic pregnancy
C. Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
Rationale: Chronic PID leads to scarring and damage to the fallopian tubes, increasing the risk of ectopic pregnancies. Tubal damage prevents the fertilized egg from moving into the uterus.
- Why does shoulder pain occur in ectopic pregnancy?
A. None
B. Diaphragmatic irritation
C. Referred pain from the abdominal cavity
D. Direct nerve involvement
B. Diaphragmatic irritation
Rationale: Shoulder pain is a referred pain due to diaphragmatic irritation caused by blood pooling under the diaphragm following tubal rupture.
- Which test can exclude hemoperitoneum in ectopic pregnancy without ultrasound?
A. Endometrial sampling
B. Diagnostic laparoscopy
C. Culdocentesis
D. Beta-hCG levels
C. Culdocentesis
Rationale: Culdocentesis involves inserting a needle into the posterior vaginal fornix to detect blood in the peritoneal cavity, which is often present in ruptured ectopic pregnancies.
- At what beta-hCG level should a gestational sac be visible via transvaginal ultrasound?
A. 500–1000 mIU/mL
B. 1000–1500 mIU/mL
C. 1500–2000 mIU/mL
D. 2000–2500 mIU/mL
C. 1500–2000 mIU/mL
Rationale: The discriminatory zone for detecting a gestational sac via transvaginal ultrasound is when beta-hCG levels are between 1500–2000 mIU/mL. If no sac is visible at these levels, ectopic pregnancy is highly suspected.
- What is the most reliable method for diagnosing ectopic pregnancy?
A. Beta-hCG levels
B. Endometrial sampling
C. Ultrasound showing an extrauterine sac with remnants
D. Laparoscopy
C. Ultrasound showing an extrauterine sac with remnants
Rationale: The presence of an extrauterine gestational sac with fetal parts or a yolk sac on ultrasound is diagnostic of ectopic pregnancy.
- Methotrexate can be used to treat ectopic pregnancy if:
A. The gestational sac is <16 weeks
B. The gestational sac is <3.5 cm and unruptured
C. The patient has signs of rupture
D. There is no need for follow-up beta-hCG levels
B. The gestational sac is <3.5 cm and unruptured
Rationale: Methotrexate is effective for treating ectopic pregnancies when the sac is small (<3.5 cm), unruptured, and the beta-hCG level is low (<5000 mIU/mL). Ruptured ectopic pregnancies require surgical intervention.
- A young female presents with 2 months of amenorrhea, severe lower abdominal pain, tachycardia, and pallor. What is the most likely diagnosis?
A. Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
B. Ruptured ovarian cyst
C. Ectopic pregnancy
D. Threatened abortion
C. Ectopic pregnancy
Rationale: The combination of amenorrhea, abdominal pain, and signs of hemodynamic instability (tachycardia, pallor) strongly suggests ectopic pregnancy, especially if the patient is of childbearing age
- The removal of a fallopian tube is referred to as:
A. Salpingotomy
B. Salpingostomy
C. Salpingectomy
D. Salpingo-oophorectomy
C. Salpingectomy
Rationale: Salpingectomy refers to the surgical removal of the fallopian tube, often performed when the tube is severely damaged or in cases of ruptured ectopic pregnancy.
- A 27-year-old G3P2 at 12 weeks of amenorrhea presents to the ER with hypogastric pain. Pregnancy test is positive, and transvaginal ultrasound shows a live embryo (4x5 cm) located in the fallopian tube. The uterus is empty. What is the next step?
A. Methotrexate therapy
B. Observation and follow-up ultrasound
C. Diagnostic laparoscopy
D. Exploratory laparotomy with salpingectomy
D. Exploratory laparotomy with salpingectomy
Rationale: A live ectopic pregnancy >4 cm in the fallopian tube requires immediate surgical intervention to prevent rupture. Salpingectomy is performed to remove the ectopic pregnancy and prevent life-threatening complications.
- Which patient is most likely to present with placenta accreta syndrome?
A. 25-year-old with one prior cesarean section
B. 30-year-old with a history of uterine surgery
C. 35-year-old G4P3 with three previous cesarean sections
D. 28-year-old with a history of preeclampsia
C. 35-year-old G4P3 with three previous cesarean sections
Rationale: Placenta accreta is associated with prior uterine surgeries, especially cesarean sections. The risk increases with the number of previous C-sections due to scarring and abnormal placental implantation.
- A 30-year-old primigravid at 39 weeks in labor experiences prolonged second stage of labor lasting 18 hours. She develops postpartum hemorrhage (PPH). What is the most likely cause?
A. Uterine rupture
B. Retained placenta
C. Uterine muscle fatigue
D. Coagulation disorder
C. Uterine muscle fatigue
Rationale: Prolonged second stage of labor can lead to uterine muscle fatigue, which impairs contraction and results in uterine atony, the most common cause of PPH.