Obs & Gynae 1 Flashcards
Describe a ‘normal’ pregnancy. What are the parameters for 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters?
A normal pregnancy lasts for 40 weeks following LMP.
1st: LMP - 12 weeks gestation
2nd: 13 weeks - 27 weeks gestation
3rd: 28 weeks to partuition
What is ‘Gravidity’?
The number of pregnancies a woman has had, to any stage.
What is ‘Parity’?
The number of offspring that a woman has delivered beyond week 28.
Describe the physiological changes during pregnancy.
- Blood volume increases: RBC, WBC & platelets increase; Albumin, Urea & Creatinine decrease
- Increased Cardiac Output
- Increased tidal volume
- Increased skin pigmentation
- Breast & nipple enlargement
- Increased GFR
- Water retention
- Increased temperature
- Decreased gut motility
What are the reasons for urinary frequency in pregnancy?
- Enlarged uterus puts pressure on bladder
- Increased GFR
What are the reasons for constipation in pregnancy?
- Decreased gastric motility
- Pressure on the GIT from a growing uterus
Describe the changes in blood pressure seen with pregnancy.
- BP may fall during the 2nd trimester
- BP recovers to ‘normal’ levels by the 3rd trimester.
What changes in the legs might be seen in a pregnant woman?
Varicose veins
What changes in the skin might be seen in a pregnant woman?
Abdominal stretch marks - these may become highly pigmented.
Give a definition of ‘normal labour’.
- Spontaneous in onset, with absence of risk-associated features throughout.
- The infant is born in the vertex position between 37 - 42 weeks gestation.
- After birth, the mother and baby are in good condition,.
When might labour be considered to be ‘not normal’?
Labour is not normal if:
- Induced
- Forceps, Ventouse, or C-section is used
- Spinal, epidural or GA is required
- Episiotomy is required
What are the stages of labour?
Stage 1: Lasts 8 - 24 hours
(includes Latent phase; then Established phase)
Stage 2:
(includes passive stage; then active stage)
Stage 3: Delivery of the placenta. Should take place within one hour of delivery.
Describe ‘Stage 1’ of ‘Normal’ Labour
- Lasts 8 - 24 hours (usually quicker in multiparous women)
i) Latent phase - Irregular contractions
- Cervical thinning and effacing
- Show of mucoid plug
ii) Established phase
- Contractions become regular
- Cervix is dilated more than 4cm (and should continue to dilate at 0.5cm/hour)
Describe ‘Stage 2’ of ‘Normal’ Labour.
i) Passive stage
Cervix is completely dilated (10cm) but the mother has no active desire to push.
ii) Active stage
- Baby’s head can be seen
- Expulsive contractions with maternal effort
The 2nd stage ends following delivery of the baby, which should be within 3 hours for primiparous women or 2 hours for multiparous women.
Describe ‘Stage 3’ of ‘Normal’ Labour.
Delivery of the placenta.
This should take place within one hour of delivery.
What are the classifications of CTG traces?
Reassuring
Non-reassuring / Suspicious
Abnormal
What does a CTG show?
Fetal Heart Rate & Uterine Contractions
What is the acronym for assessing a CTG?
Dr - Define risk C - Contractions Br - Baseline fetal Heart rate A - Accelerations Va - Variability D - Decelerations (always bad!!!!) O - Overall impression of the CTG
What factors might contribute to how risky a pregnancy is?
- Maternal asthma
- Maternal gestational diabetes
- Maternal HTN
- Multiple gestation
- Previous Caesarian section
- Intra Uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR)
- Pre-eclampsia
- Smoking
- Drugs
How are Uterine contractions assessed / reported?
- Shown on the bottom of the CTG trace
- 1 square represents one minute
- Contractions are often described by how many there are in a 10 minute period (eg. 2 in 10).
- Note how long each contraction lasts & how intense it is (guided by palpation of the uterus during contraction).
What are the parameters for a baseline fetal heart rate on a CTG?
The baseline fetal HR is the average over the previous 10 minutes
Normal: 110 - 160
Non-reassuring: 100-109; 161-180
Abnormal: <100bpm or >180bpm
Describe ‘variability’ with regards to a CTG.
- How variable the heart rate is from the highest FHR to the lowest in a 3 minute period.
What might cause ‘decreased’ variability?
- Fetal sleeping
- Fetal hypoxia & acidosis
- Opiate use
- Prematurity
- Congenital heart issues (of the foetus).
Describe an ‘acceleration’ with regards to a CTG.
Acceleration = an increase of 15bpm or more for 15 secs or more from baseline FHR.
The presence of accelerations is assuring, and these should occur alongside uterine contractions.
Describe ‘decelerations’ with regards to a CTG.
Decelerations:
- a decrease of 15bpm or more from baseline FHR for 15 or more seconds.
What are the 3 classes of deceleration?
1) Early: usually normal.
Start with the uterine contraction & end after the uterine contraction
2) Variable: not necessarily related to uterine contractions & may not recover smoothly following the end of a contraction.
- often due to cord compression
3) Late: start at the peak of a contraction & recover at the end of the contraction.
- often due to insufficient blood supply to the uterus & placenta.
If a deceleration lasts for 2-3 minutes, it’s classed as ‘prolonged’ and is non-reassuring.
If it lasts for longer than 3 minutes = BE WORRIED
- Indicates fetal blood sampling and may require emergency C section.
What are the options for pain relief during labour?
- Waterbirth
- Nitrous Oxide (gas & air)
- Narcotic injections (IM Pethidine)
- Pudendal block
- Epidural anaesthesia
Name 3 pregnancy hormones & their role during pregnancy
Progesterone: prepares the endometrium (vascularisation etc), stops contractions.
- increases maternal ventilation
- promotes glucose deposition in fat stores.
- inhibition of progesterone with Mifepristone will terminate pregnancy.
Oestrogen: E3 (Oestradiol) = main oestrogen in pregnancy. Derived from the ovary initially, then foetus -> it is a measure of fetal wellbeing.
- promotes changes in the cardiovascular system.
hCG: produced by the trophoblast, hCG prevents luteal regression. hCG prevents decline of corpus luteum, ensuring the corpus luteum synthesised progestins until the placenta forms.
What do we mean by ‘Maternal physiological adaptation to pregnancy’?
Re-setting of ‘normal’ physiological values. All systems are affected:
endocrine, resp, CV, GI, renal, reproductive, immune system, metabolic etc.
Synchronisation between maternal / blastocyst tissues.
Glucose is the principle fetal nutrient, but fetal gluconeogenic enzymes are inactivated. Why?
How does the foetus get glucose?
Fetal gluconeogenic enzymes are inactivated due to a low arterial PO2.
Foetus gets glucose from the maternal circulation (via the placenta). Carrier system saturates at 20mmol/l.
Fetal glucose levels directly relate to mother’s glucose levels.
Describe glucose / glycogen synthesis / control in i) Early pregnancy and ii) late pregnancy
i) Early pregnancy: Maternal glycogen synthesis (plasma glucose levels don’t rise as high); fat deposition -> storing energy for the baby.
ii) Late pregnancy: Glucose levels peak at higher for longer -> ? glucose sparing for the foetus?
? Maternal insulin resistance.
Describe the insulin response in i) Early pregnancy and ii) late pregnancy
i) Early pregnancy: progressive rise in gestational insulin response.
ii) Late pregnancy: massive insulin response: body appears to be less sensitive to the insulin being produced.
? Maternal insulin resistance.
Give two possible explanations for Maternal Insulin Resistance seen in pregnancy.
- Spares glucose for fetal use. hPL = a hormone which induces insulin resistance in the mother.
- Elevated maternal insulin protects mother and antagonises fetal hPL.
? Maternal restriction of nutrient supply to foetus.
Give two in utero complications of gestational diabetes for the foetus.
- Macrosomic infant - at risk of shoulder dystocia.
2. Glucose at high concentrations in teratogenic.
Describe the process of blastocyst implantation.
- Window of implantation (days 20 - 24 of cycle). Implantation will not happen if outside of this time frame.
- Human blastocyst undergoes interstitial implantation -> primary decidual reaction occurs (increased vascularity etc).
- Implantation: placenta forms (under hypoxic conditions). Floating villi & anchoring villi formed.
- Endovascular invasion: spiral artery remodelling.
What complications might arise as a consequence of poor endovascular remodelling in utero?
- Pre-eclampsia: extent and depth of spiral artery remodelling greatly decreased. Reduced fetal O2 / nutrient supply.
- IUGR
- Pre-term birth
- Recurrent miscarriage
What are the 3 main types of incorrect placentation?
Morbidly adherent placenta:
- Accreta: superficial myometrium
- Increta: deeper myometrium
- Percreta: into other abdominal organs
What separates the placenta from the myometrium (if placental location is ‘normal’)?
Decidua basalis.
The foetus is immunologically different to the mother. Why is it not rejected?
- Down regulation of immune system during pregnancy
- Fetus is immune-privileged: syncytiotrophoblast has not cell markers and is therefore unlikely to stimulate the maternal immune system.
- Upregulation of Th2 helper cells. Down regulation of Th1 (Th1 would reject foetus) -> results in a modified immune response.
In a non-pregnant woman, there is a balance between Th1:Th2, which brings about an appropriate immune response.
What happens to this balance during pregnancy?
What happens if this balance is not altered during pregnancy?
Normal pregnancy:
- Th2 bias observed
- Immune response modified
Th2 bias not observed
- exaggerated inflammatory response see
- ? pre-eclampsia, recurrent miscarriage, IUGR
Which cells make antibodies?
B cells (plasma cells)
Which antibody is secreted in breast milk?
IgA
Which is the only immunoglobulin to cross the placenta?
IgG
This has a role in rhesus disease / haemolytic disease of the newborn
Explain the phenomenon of Rhesus disease.
Rh -ve mum (dd); Rh +ve dad (DD or Dd)
Rh +ve = dominant antigen
> 50 - 100% offspring affected
1st pregnancy:
- Fetal and maternal blood mix (during birth).
- Mum sensitised to fetal blood. Memory cell made.
Subsequent pregnancy:
- IgG made (can cross the placenta)
- leads to lysis of fetal RBCs
- causes fetal anaemia, death.
What can be done to minimise the risk of Rhesus disease?
Anti-D prophylaxis
> This destroys Anti Rh +ve IgG
> Fetal RBCs not attacked.
What are the 3 stages of parturition?
- Cervical dilatation (remodelling)
- Fetal expulsion (myometrial contraction)
- Placental delivery
Which electrolyte is elevated during myometrial contractility stage?
Calcium
- leads to myocyte contraction
- release is mediated by oxytocin: elevates Ca2+ & stimulates contraction by releasing intracellular stores.
What is the role of oxytocin in parturition?
- Elevates Calcium: stimulates contraction by releasing intracellular stores.
- Increased no. of Oxytocin receptors seen at term on fundal myometrium.
- Clinically, oxytocin analogues (syntocinon) are used to induce labour.
What is the ‘Ferguson Reflex’?
Membrane sweep
- Cervical stimulation / myometrial stretch induces oxytocin secretion.
- Initiates a positive feedback mechanism (Ferguson Reflex)
> May stimulate uterine contractions.
What is Atosiban?
- Antagonist of the oxytocin receptor
- Inhibits premature myometrial contractions
What does Carboprost do?
Induces contractions.
List some risk factors for Breast Cancer.
- Age
- FHx: Sporadic, Polygenic, Single gene
- Duration of oestrogen exposure
- Late first pregnancy
- HRT
- Obesity
- Alcohol
List some clinical features of breast cancers.
- Lump: irregular, hard, fixed
- Metastatic disease: bone -> pathological fracture
- Nipple discharge
- Skin tethering
- Indrawn nipple
- peau d’orange: lymphatics blocked -> causes oedema
How is a diagnosis of breast cancer made?
Triple Assessment:
> Clinical score 1-5
> Imaging score (Mammogram) 1-5
> Biopsy score 1-5
Aim for concordance
What views of each breast should you request for mammography?
If the lump has a ‘fluffy edge’ on imaging, what does this indicate?
Craniocaudal (CC) & Mediolateral oblique (MLO) views of each breast.
‘Fluffy edge’ = ? malignant
If a woman has a breast implant, what would be the imaging mode of choice?
MRI.
MRI would also be used for high risk screening.
What are surgical options for ‘primary operable breast cancer’?
What considerations should you make when making a decision?
- Breast conservation
- Mastectomy.
Considerations:
- multiple tumours
- tumour size relative to breast
- patient choice
When would surgery to the axilla be indicated?
- for local control
- prognostic factors
What do we mean by tumour ‘grade’?
Histologically - what the tumour looks like.
Grade 1, 2 or 3.
NB: ‘Grade’ is NOT the same as ‘stage’.
What do we mean by tumour ‘stage’?
What model do we use to ‘stage’ tumours?
Stage = the anatomical extent of the disease.
TNM: Tumour, Nodes, Metastasis
Give some examples of chemotherapy regimes.
FEC: Current standard
5FU, Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide
FEC-T: used in HER2 +ve disease
As above, plus Texans
TC: Taxane plus cisplatin.
Used in triple negative disease
Chemotherapy is generally used for high risk disease. Give some risk factors for high risk disease.
- Young age
- ER -ve
- Her2 +ve
- High grade
- Node positive
- Ki67 positive
- Tumour size
Give some therapeutic treatment options other than chemotherapy for breast cancer.
- Endocrine therapy (if ER+ve disease)
- Radiotherapy
- Bisphosphonates (if post-menopausal with ER+ve disease)
- HER2 (give Herceptin)
What is Tamoxifen used for?
- If oestrogen receptor positive
- inhibits oestrogen receptor on cancer cells.
- An endocrine therapy.
What are Aromatase inhibitors used for?
- If ER +ve
- Post-menopausal women
- Anti-oestrogen.
Slightly better efficacy than Tamoxifen.
What are the implications of a Her-2 diagnosis?
Her-2 +ve = worst prognosis of any subtype
High metastatic risk, particularly to the brain.
Give chemo + Trastuzumab
When will radiotherapy be needed?
- T3 + T4 cancers usually require post-operative chest wall radiotherapy
- High grade plus nodal disease
List some problems associated with radiotherapy:
- Skin viability risk
- Wound healing
- Loss of elasticity
- Fat necrosis
- Fibrosis
- Implant extrusion
The 1st stage of labour involves uterine contraction, cervical effacement and dilatation. Which nerve roots are involved in pain transmission during this time?
T10 - L1: uterine sympathetic nerve via paracervical ganglia
S2 - S4: Pelvic Splanchnic Nerves
The 2nd stage of labour involves stretching of the vagina, perineum and extrauterine pelvic structures. Which nerve roots are involved in pain transmission during this time?
S2 - S4: Pudendal nerve
L5 - S1
Give some examples of non-pharmacological therapies which may help to alleviate pain during labour
> Trained support > Acupuncture > Hypnotherapy > Massage > TENS > Hydrotherapy > Alternative therapy: homeopathy; aromatherapy
Give some examples of simple analgesics that women can self administer in the early stages of labour
> Paracetamol
> Codeine
Give 3 examples of opioids used in labour to alleviate pain.
How are they administered?
Morphine, Diamorphine, Pethidine.
Administered as a single shot (usually IM) or IV via a patient-controlled analgesic pump.
Give some properties of opioids.
Opioids: Morphine, Diamorphine, Pethidine
> All cause sedation, respiratory depression, N&V, pruritus.
Lipid soluble, therefore cross the placenta rapidly.
Diamorphine rapidly eliminated by the placenta.
Pethidine metabolites can cause seizures. Avoid in epileptics.
Why should you not give ibuprofen (or any other NSAID) during labour?
Baby’s Ductus Arteriosus may not shut if you’ve given mother ibuprofen / an NSAID).
Give 3 examples of PCA opioids.
Fentanyl: rapid onset of action
Alfentanil
Remifentanil
What is ‘Entonox’?
50% N2O; 50% O2
> Rapid onset of analgesia
minimal side effects
At what spinal level should you perform an epidural?
L3/4, just outside of the dura
> This should avoid potential damage to the spinal cord.
> Ultrasound may be used to aid placement of epidurals.
Give 3 examples of ‘regional anaesthesia’ techniques.
> Epidural
Spinal
Combined spinal-epidural (CSE)
What i) local anaesthetic; ii) opioids would be used in a spinal? What kind of drugs are these?
i) Local anaesthetic: Bupivacaine
ii) Opioids:
Fentanyl
Diamorphine
These are examples of neuroaxial drugs.
What would a woman feel like after having a spinal?
Dense, heavy numbness.
Can’t feel contractions.
List some indications for an epidural.
> Maternal request > Cardiac / other medical disease > Augmented labour > Multiple births > Instrumental / operative delivery likely
Give 3 absolute contraindications to regional* anaesthetic techniques.
- Regional anaesthetic techniques = Epidural, Spinal, CSE
- Maternal refusal
- Local infection
- Allergy
Give 5 relative contraindications to regional* anaesthetic techniques.
- Regional anaesthetic techniques = Epidural, Spinal, CSE
- Coagulopathy
- Systemic infection
- Hypovolaemia
- Abnormal anatomy
- Fixed cardiac output
Give some examples of adverse effects of regional anaesthesia on the different organ systems.
CVS: Hypotension; Bradycardia if high block
Resp: blocked intercostal nerves, poor cough
Neuro: (rare!) related to haematoma or abscess
Drug related: allergy, anaphylaxis, neurotoxicity.
Describe the 4 types of ‘Epidural regimens’.
1) Traditional (intermittent bolus)
2) Continuous infusion
3) Continuous infusion + bolus
4) Combined spinal-epidural
Give some outcomes of labour following regional anaesthesia usage.
- Superior analgesia
- Maternal satisfaction better with low dose
- May prolong labour
- May increase instrumental delivery
- Maternal pyrexia ?significance
What are the anaesthetic options for an operative delivery (i.e. C-section).
- General anaesthesia
- Regional anaesthesia
- Epidural top up
- Spinal
- CSE
- to a certain degree, this depends on urgency.
When would a general anaesthetic be considered for an operative delivery?
- Imminent threat to mother and/or foetus
- Contraindication to regional
- Maternal preference
- Failed regional technique
There may be increased risks with general anaesthesia for a C-section delivery. Give examples of these.
- Increased risks associated with altered physiology
- Aspiration
- Failed intubation
- Awareness
Give 4 advantages of regional anaesthesia.
- Safer
- Can see baby immediately
- Partner present
- Improved post-op analgesia
Give 4 disadvantages of regional anaesthesia
- Hypotension
- Headache
- Discomfort associated with pressure sensations
- Failure
What percentage of pregnancies end in miscarriage?
Approx 20%
What is a ‘threatened miscarriage’?
A pregnancy associated with vaginal bleeding + with or without abdominal pain. Closed cervix.
What is an ‘inevitable miscarriage’?
Bleeding + pain.
Open cervix.
What is a ‘complete miscarriage’?
Bleeding and pain cease. Closed cervix. Empty uterus.
What is an ‘incomplete miscarriage’?
Bleeding ± pain.
Possible open cervix.
What is a ‘missed miscarriage’ / early fetal demise?
± bleeding ± pain ± loss of pregnancy symptoms. Closed cervix.
What indicates a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL)?
± bleeding ± pain. closed cervix.
Positive pregnancy test. Empty uterus. No sign of extrauterine pregnancy.
Serial serum b-hCG assay (48hours apart) + initial serum progesterone to exclude ectopic pregnancy / failing Pregnancy of unknown location.
How is a ‘delayed miscarriage’ diagnosed?
Ultrasound scan:
- empty gestation sac OR
- fetal pole with no heart beat.
What are the 3 options for miscarriage management?
- Expectant management
- Medical management
- Mifepristone (anti-progesterone priming)
then;
- Misoprostol (prostaglandins analogue) - Surgical management