OB Flashcards
Most physiologic changes occur in the ___ trimester, and most anatomic changes occur in ____
- Physiologic = 1st trimester
- due to hormones secreted by corpus luteum and placenta
- Anatomic = 2nd and 3rd trimesters
- mechanical changes of the women’s body by enlarging uterus and compression of surrounding structures
Are the physiologic and anatomic changes in pregnancy good or bad?
Mostly good.
Respiratory changes in pregnancy (physiologic)
- Increase in ventilation
- D/t increased metabolic demand & progesteron eproduction
- Increase 40% TV
- increase 15% RR
- increase 50% MV
- drives maternal PaCO2 to 30-32 (goes into resp alkalosis pH = 7.44)
- compensated respiratory alkalosis with renal excretion of bicarbonate
- Breathing pattern more diaphragmatic
- is increased work of breathing
- increased use of accessory muscles
- chest wall muscle relaxation → chest wall expansion (progesteron mediated)
- d/t increased progesterone
- Lung compliance unchanged
- increase in airway edema → an increase in airway resistance
- Increase in O2 Consumption
- Increase by 30%
- Curve shifts to the right (P50 increases from 26-28mmHg)
- increased CO2 production
- increased by 35%
ABG changes
- PaO2 decreased (>100 mmHg)
- PaCO2 decreased (30-32 mmHg)
- Arterial pH no change
- Serum bicarbonate decreased 4 mEq/L (from 26 to 22 mEq/L)
- Compensatory renal excretion of serum bicarbonate
Anatomic respiratory changes in pregnancy
Cephalad diaphragm displacement
Weight gain and breast enlargement (pressure on the chest and boobs might get in the way of airway)
Vascular engorgement of the respiratory tract mucosa
Mucus membranes fragile
Edema of nasopharynx, oropharynx, and the cords
Faster small-airway closure
When is edema of the nasopharynx, oropharynx, and the cords most common?
During pre-eclampsia Remember there is HTN and loss of plasma proteins.
Effect of pregnancy on the FRC
Decrease by 20% Less safe apnea time!!
Why can pregnant ladies desat quickly?
Low FRC and high O2 consumption rate (20% higher than normal).
We can expect induction during pregnancy to be (faster/slower) than the non-pregnant patient.
MAC should be (increased/decreased) by ____.
Faster induction
Decreased MAC by 25-40%
Effects of maternal hyperventilation
- Alkalosis - Shift to the left (will decreased O2 release to the fetus)
- Constriction of the umbilical and uterine blood vessels
- This is only a problem with prolonged hyperventilation
Effects of elevating the diaphragm
Decreased FRC and displacement of the heart (look at EKG, listen for murmur, possible dysrhythmia)
Pregnancy and coagulation
Overall, it is a hypercoagulable state Increased clotting factors (fibrinogen and factors 5-8)
Platelets remain unchanged or may decrease slightly
CO will be (increased/decreased) during pregnancy
Increased
What happens to BP and SVR in pregnancy
- SVR will decreased by 20% - vessels lose their SNS tone BP will decrease slightly
- ADH is cleared more rapidly
- BP maintenance depends on RAAS b/c vessels have lost their SNS tone
Your pregnant patient is lying supine and starts to drop their BP.
What is this and how is it treated?
Supine Hypotensive Syndrome
It’s possible compression of vena cava or aorta.
Treatment:
- Left or right uterine displacement (depending on which vessel is compressed)
- Hydrate before induction
- Treat hypotension with ephedrine or phenylephrine
Supine hypotension syndrome is a risk > ____ weeks and can decrease CO by up to ___%
20 weeks
30%
Plasma volume increases by ___% but RBC volume only increases by ___%.
Plasma 50%
RBC 20%
Causes a dilutional anemia
Normal blood loss during vaginal birth
500cc
Normal blood loss during a c-section
500-1,000cc
GI changes in pregnancy
As a result of physiologic and hormonal changes:
- Delayed gastric emptying
- Everything in the GI tract slowed overall
- Secretions are more acidic
- Stomach is displaced upward and at 45 degree angle to the right.
- This displaces the intra-abdominal portion of the esophagus into the thorax, decreasing tone to the lower esophageal sphincter, causing reflux
All parturients greater than ___ weeks are considered full stomachs
12 weeks
Aspiration risk continues into the post-partum period, until the body has time to normalize hormonally, physiologically, and anatomically.
Aspiration prophylaxis in pregnancy
Give non-particulate antacids, H2 blockers, and/or reglan.
Consider doing regional instead.
If doing GA, do RSI.
Renal Changes in Pregnancy
High CO and large blood volume cause an increase in GFR by 60%.
Hepatic Changes in Pregnancy
Slight increases in AST and ALT
Bigger changes will be seen in HELLP syndrome (part of pre-eclampsia)