O&G Cases 1,4,6,9 Flashcards
Describe what antepartum heamorrhage is:
Vaginal bleeding after 20 weeks of gestation before delivery of fetus.
Where does the bleeding in antepartum heamorrhage most often originate from?
Placental in origin or lower genitourinary tract
What are the causes of antepartum heamorrhage?
- Placental abruption
- Placenta previa
- Uterine rupture (RARE)
- Undetermined/placental edge bleeding
- Lower genital tract i.e cervical poly, ectropian, genital infection, carcinoma (RARE)
What is the aetiology of placental abruption and some common risk factors?
- No known cause.
Risk factors:
- Previous abruption
- Pre-eclampsia/chronic hypertension
- Polyhydroaminos
- Trauma
- Thrombophilia
- High parity and multiple pregnancy. Advanced maternal age.
- Smoking, cocaine
What is the presentation of placental abruption?
Depends on site of placental separation and its severity. i.e massive internal uterine bleeding progressing to CV shock and DIC
NOT all women have vaginal bleeding and thus it is concealed.
What can blood into the uterus lead to?
Blood in the uterus can infiltrate the myometrium, causing inflammation and can cause contractions / labour.
Remember that labour is a inflammatory process and thus inflammation i.e infection or trauma can precipitate labour.
What are the clinical signs of abruption?
Uterine hyperstimulation (5 in 10) and blood stained liqour (In addition to abdo pain and vaginal bleeding)
Contracted uterus: Tender and doesnt relax.
Tachycardia (Hypovolemia)
What investigations can you do for a placental abruption?
- FBC
- Platelets
- Creatinine + Urea + Electro
- Coagulation screen (DIC)
Whats the emergency management for a placental abruption?
- DRSABC
- Call for Help
- Resus + restore blood volume
- Correct anaemia and coagulopathy
- Pain relief
- Monitor fetus
- Fluid balance
- Transfer, delivery baby and placenta, expect PPH
What is placenta previa?
- The placenta partially or completely is in the lower segment of the uterus.
What does placenta previa cause?
PAINLESS vaginal bleeding in a women known to have a low lying placenta.
- Multiple epiodes of light vaginal bleeding are characteristic but large bleeds can occur.
Notebook Antepartum heamorrhage is PAINFUL vaginal bleeding.
How do you manage placenta previa with APH?
Small recurrent bleeds:
- Admit and monitor 24-48hrs
- Corticosteroids if <34 weeks and delivery likely
- Check anaemia
- Anti-D if rhesus neg
If 37-38 weeks, planned C-section
What are the potential complications of placenta previa?
- Heamorrhage
- Pre-term
- C-section
- Placenta accreta
- Maternal death
What is placenta accreta?
When the placenta previa adheres to the myometrium abnormally (can be due to the scar tissue of a previous c section)
Invades myometrium = Increta
Through myometrium = Percreta
What are the gynae causes of lower genital tract bleeding?
- Cervical polyps
- Cervical ectropion
- Genital infection (Cervitis; Chalm and Gon, Vaginitis; thrush)
- Cervical carcinoma
- Vasa previa (placental vessels run run in front of the presenting part infront the cervical OS
How is hypertension in pregnancy defined?
On two occasions at least 6 hours apart:
o Systolic BP ≥ 140mmHg and/or
o Diastolic BP ≥ 90 mmHg
What is chronic or essential hypertension in a pregnant woman?
Hypertension either existed prior to the pregnancy, or occurs before 20 weeks gestation
What is gestational hypertension?
- new-onset hypertension >20 weeks gestation
- no features of pre-eclampsia (no proteinuria, no oedema)
- approximately 25% develop preeclampsia, especially when occurs early
What is pre-eclampsia
HTN (After 20 weeks) +/- Urine protein creatinine ration >30 mg/mmol, +/- multi system impairment i.e renal, pulm, hepatic, heame
=
Uteroplacental dysfunction -> usually showing by slowing growth of fetus
What is eclampsia?
Occurrence of a tonic-clonic seizure in a patient with preeclampsia in the absence of other neurologic conditions that could account for the seizure
What is HELPP syndrome?
Heamolysis, Elevated Liver enzymes (AST + ALT), Low Platelets
Can result in DIC
What is a common presentation of pre-eclampsia?
- Headache
- Visual disturbances
- Epigastric pain
Hyperreflexia, Clonus, Seizures (Eclampsia symptoms)
What can happen to the fetus in pre-eclampsia?
- Fetal growth restriction
- Hypoxaemia
- Acute fetal distress
What fetal morbidity can result from preterm delivery?
- Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH)
- RDS
- Retinopathy of prematurity
- Sepsis
- Necrotising entercolitis