Module 1: Caitlyn Flashcards
What are 4 physiology to the fetus (vs healthy neonate)?
- p02 is 17-19mmHg
- Right to left shunting
- high PVR and low systemic vascular resistance
- blood shunted to heart and brain
What are 4 physiology to the healthy neonate (vs fetus)?
- p02 is 50-70mmHg
- Left to right shunting
- Low PVR and High systemic vascular resistance
- blood perfuses all organs
What does it mean by “The fetus exists in a state of hypoxemia”
- fetus exists in a state of hypoxemia because the fetal pO2 is low (approximately 17–19 mmHg).
- This means that while the blood oxygen levels are low, tissue oxygen levels are sufficient to meet the fetus’s low oxygen needs
What is Right-to-left shunting, through the foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus, is a feature of fetal circulation?
- Right-to-left shunting means that blood normally headed for the lungs via the pulmonary artery is shunted through the ductus arteriosus to the aorta, thereby bypassing the lungs.
- Further, blood in the right atrium normally headed for the right ventricle is shunted through the foramen ovale to the left atrium, thereby bypassing the lungs.
- Right-to-left shunting occurs because of patent shunts (foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus) and pressure gradients.
- Fetal pressure gradients are such that the pressure in the right heart is higher than the pressure in the left; blood follows the path of least resistance, flowing away from high-pressure areas toward low-pressure areas.
What is high pressure in fetal lungs a result of (3)?
High pressure in fetal lungs is a result of
- pulmonary vasoconstriction,
- low blood oxygen and the
- collapsed and fluid-filled nature of fetal lungs.
What does it mean by “Fetal circulation functions to provide vital organs with sufficient oxygen” (predictable blood)?
- Vital organs—heart and brain—receive blood that is preductal.
- Preductal blood is well oxygenated because it is the blood that has been shunted through the foramen ovale rather than the ductus arteriosus.
- Preductal blood is better oxygenated.
- The heart and the brain, due to their anatomic location, receive blood that arises from the coronary and carotid arteries, which are both preductal arteries (that is, they are located on the aorta prior to the location of the ductus arteriosus).
Arrange neonatal transition events immediately following delivery in the correct order from first to last:
- cutting the umbilical cord
- p02 rising
- decreased systematic vasculature and increased pulmonary vasculature
- first breath
- ductus arteriosus begins to close
- first breath
- p02 rising
- ductus arteriosus begins to close
- cutting of the umbilical cord
- decreased systemic vasculature and increased pulmonary vasculature
What effect does rising newborn pO2 have on transition?
- Closure of the DA:
- A rising pO2 begins to close the ductus arteriosus, which also increases pulmonary perfusion
An increase in ______and a decrease in ________causes the closure of ductus arteriosus
- increase in pO2
- decrease in prostaglandin
**this occurs during labour and delivery.
What can impede transition (4)?
Any event that interferes with the key events mentioned in the previous question can impede successful transition.
- Lung diseases such as diaphragmatic hernia and pulmonary hypoplasia can prevent gas exchange from adequately occurring in the lungs immediately after birth.
- Central nervous system depression can interfere with breathing at birth and can be due to drugs, intrauterine hypoxia, and congenital defects.
- Meconium aspiration can block airways and interfere with gas exchange at birth.
- Hypothermia can lead to high oxygen utilization and, while hypothermia does not cause asphyxia, it certainly worsens it
**For Transition Time and, if not remedied, will lead to asphyxia and PPHN.
What can meconium aspiration lead to?
- MAS —> which leads to hypoxia and respiratory distress —> increase risk of PPHN
What is meconium? Composed of (5)?
- a viscous, dark-green substance
- composed of water, intestinal epithelial cells, lanugo, mucus, and intestinal secretions.
What can cause passage meconium to into amniotic fluid?
- Intrauterine distress
Explain the meconium passage in utero?
- In utero, meconium passage results from neural stimulation of a mature GI tract and usually results from fetal hypoxic stress
- As the fetus approaches term, the GI tract matures, and vagal stimulation from head or cord compression may cause peristalsis and relaxation of the rectal sphincter leading to meconium passage.
Is it true that meconium- stained amniotic fluid can be aspirated before or during labour and delivery?
True
Is meconium found in amniotic fluid prior to 34 weeks gestation?
-meconium is rarely found in the amniotic fluid prior to 34 weeks’ gestation,
- meconium aspiration chiefly affects term and post-term infants.
What are 4 effects of meconium in utero?
- Meconium directly alters the amniotic fluid,
- reducing antibacterial activity and
- subsequently increasing the risk of perinatal bacterial infection.
- Meconium is irritating to fetal skin.
What are the 3 ways meconium aspiration affects pulmonary function?
- airway obstruction
- surfactant dysfunction
- chemical pneumonitis
What is the result of airway obstructions by meconium?
- Complete obstruction of the airways by meconium results in atelectasis.
- Partial obstruction causes air trapping and hyperdistention of the alveoli, commonly termed the ball-valve effect.
- Hyperdistention of the alveoli occurs from airway expansion during inhalation and airway collapse around meconium in the airway, causing increased resistance during exhalation.
- The gas that is trapped (hyperinflating the lung) may rupture into the pleura (pneumothorax), mediastinum (pneumomediastinum), or pericardium (pneumopericardium).
What does meconium do to surfactant?
- Meconium deactivates surfactant and results in diffuse atelectasis.
What is the result chemical pneumonitis caused by meconium?
- Enzymes, bile salts, and fats in meconium irritate the airways and parenchyma, causing a release of cytokines and resulting in a diffuse pneumonitis.
Does airway obstruction, surfactant dysfunction and chemical pneumonitis caused by meconium produce gross ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatching?
Yes
- All of these pulmonary effects can produce gross ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) mismatching.
What is the order of events?
-Hypoxia and hypercapnia
-Meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS)
-Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
-Airway obstruction, infection, and inflammation
-Atelectasis, right-to-left shunt, decreased pa02, lung injury, airway edema, surfactant deactivation
-Aspiration of meconium-stained fluid at delivery
-Meconium in utero
- meconium in utero
- aspiration of meconium-stained fluid at delivery
- MAS
- airway obstruction, infection, inflammation
- Atelectasis, right-to-left shunt, decreased pa02, lung injury, airway edema, surfactant deactivation
- Hypoxia and hypercapnia
- Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN)
What can intrauterine hypoxia lead to (in utero to fetus)?
- Intrauterine hypoxia can lead to meconium passage, which may result in meconium aspiration.
- The ensuing respiratory distress, hypoxia, hypercapnia, and acidosis all put Caitlyn (who is trying to transition from fetal to extrauterine circulation) at risk for PPHN.
***Although MAS does not always lead to PPHN and PPHN is not always caused by MAS, the two often occur together, with MAS either causing or contributing to the development of PPHN.
What is Persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn PPHN?
- PPHN is failure of the normal circulatory transition resulting in right to left shunting (blood is bypassing the lungs) through the DA/FO and pulmonary vasoconstriction resulting in severe and often prolonged hypoxia, which can be very difficult to correct
What is PPHN defined as?
- defined as the failure of the normal circulatory transition that occurs after birth.
- It is a syndrome characterized by marked pulmonary hypertension that causes hypoxemia and right-to-left shunting of blood through the ductus arteriosus and foramen ovale
Is true that all asphyxiated infants are high risk for developing PPHN?
Yes
What are 3 common causes of PPHN?
- acute pulmonary vasoconstriction
- hypoplasia of pulmonary vascular bed
- pulmonary hypertension
What are 3 common causes of PPHN of acute pulmonary vasoconstriction?
Most common cause of PPHN
- hypoxia alveolar secondary to parenchymal lung disease:
= meconium aspiration syndrome
= respiratory distress syndrome
= pneumonia
- Hypoventilation resulting from asphyxia or other neurological conditions
- Hypothermia
What are 2 causes of PPHN produce hypoplasia of pulmonary vascular bed?
- Congenital diaphragmatic hernia CDH: degree of pulmonary hypoplasia
- Oligohydramnios (amniotic fluid disorder): utero may produce pulmonary hypoplasia and associated PPHN.
What is Congenital diaphragmatic hernia CDH?
- characterized by a variable degree of pulmonary hypoplasia associated with a decrease in cross-sectional area of the pulmonary vasculature and alterations of the surfactant system.
What are the three basic types of congenital diaphragmatic hernia?
There are three basic types of congenital diaphragmatic hernia:
- the posterolateral Bochdalek hernia (occurring at approximately 6 weeks’ gestation),
- the anterior Morgagni hernia, and
- the hiatus hernia.
What 3 ways can pulmonary hypertension be a cause of PPHN?
- Constriction of the fetal ductus arteriosus in utero, which can occur after exposure to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen during the third trimester
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) during late gestation is associated with PPHN
- Parenchymal and vascular disease: An abnormally remodeled vasculature may develop in utero in response to prolonged fetal stress, hypoxia, and/or pulmonary hypertension.
Why is that PPHN rarely occurs in premature babies?
- PPHN rarely occurs in premature babies, owing to their relative lack of musculature in pulmonary arterioles and capillaries.
- This lack of musculature means that premature infants do not respond to perinatal asphyxia with the same degree of pulmonary vasoconstriction.
- Preterm infants who have suffered from oligohydramnios, premature prolonged rupture of members (PPROM), pulmonary hypoplasia and sepsis are at increased risk for developing PPHN
What is PPHN characterized by (4)?
- Increased pulmonary vascular resistance
- The normally high pulmonary vascular resistance, which was necessary for fetal circulation, persists into the newborn period. - Patent DA and FO
- Increased pulmonary vascular resistance leads to right-to-left-shunting of blood through the ductus arteriosus and possibly the foramen ovale. The foramen ovale will remain open as long as high right/low left pressure gradients exist. - Vasoconstriction of pulmonary vessels
- Vasoconstriction leads to minimal amounts of pulmonary blood flow and this, in turn, leads to more hypoxia, acidosis, and eventually lactic acidosis. - Hypoxia
- As the hypoxia continues, so does the pulmonary vasoconstriction. This state is considered the “vicious cycle” of PPHN.
What does perinatal asphyxia result in?
Perinatal asphyxia results in –> hypoxia, which leads to –> pulmonary vasoconstriction.
- Pulmonary vasoconstriction creates high pulmonary vascular resistance.
- High pulmonary vascular resistance causes right-to-left shunting and pulmonary hypoperfusion.
- Pulmonary hypoperfusion results in further hypoxia.
The hypoxia that occurs because of right-to-left shunting and pulmonary hypoperfusion is often quite profound and difficult to correct. This is why PPHN carries a high mortality rate.
What are the 2 primary goals of care for an infant with MAS and PPHN (to decrease)?
- minimizing hypoxia
- decreasing pulmonary vasoconstriction
How does cold stress could further compromise an infant experiencing MAS and PPHN?
- Cold stress further compromises an infant with MAS and PPHN by worsening the hypoxia and acidosis that already exist.
- Increased metabolic activity results in increased consumption of oxygen, which leads to anaerobic metabolism and eventually acidosis.
- As a result, infants experiencing cold stress have the vicious cycle of MAS and PPHN further perpetuated, adding to the hypoxia, acidosis, and pulmonary vasoconstriction already in existence.
How many veins/arteries does umbilical cord have?
- The umbilical cord has three umbilical vessels: one vein and two arteries.
- The vein is oval and thin walled and the arteries are round and thick walled.
What does umbilical venous catheters (UVC) offer and how long does it last for?
- The umbilical vein offers vascular access in the immediate period following birth and up to approximately one week of age
- Can be single, double or triple lumens
What are the indications for UVC (5)?
- LBW or critically ill infants requiring long-term vascular access
- Venous administration of hyperosmolar fluids or irritating medications is required
- Exchange transfusion
- Resuscitation
- Central venous pressure monitoring
What are 4 contraindications for UVC?
- Peritonitis
- Necrotizing enterocolitis
- Omphalitis
- Omphalocele
What are the two positioning for UVC?
- Low-lying position: 2–4 cm (used for drug administration during resuscitation)
- Central position: catheter tip in the interior vena cava at the junction of the right atrium
What are umbilical arterial catheters UAC used for?
- UACs are used for painless blood sampling and continuous blood pressure monitoring.
- For these reasons, UACs are often used in neonates with significant respiratory disease, with unstable hemodynamic status, and for those unstable on admission or likely to require significant blood sampling over the first few days of life
What are 3 indications for UAC?
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Arterial blood sampling
- Exchange transfusion
What are 4 contraindications for UAC?
- Vascular compromise of lower extremities
- Peritonitis
- Necrotizing enterocolitis
- Omphalitis
- Omphalocele
- Acute abdomen etiology
What are the two positionings for UAC?
- Low-lying position: between L3 and L4, catheter tip above the aortic bifurcation
- High-lying (preferred): between T6 to T9, catheter tip above the diaphragm
Can UAC be used for administration of drugs/fluids?
- Umbilical arterial catheters can be used for administration of drugs, fluids, parenteral nutrition and blood products;
- however, as a general rule they are only used for blood pressure monitoring and blood sampling unless a doctor orders otherwise.