Obstetric Anesthesia Part I Flashcards
The physiologic changes that occur during pregnancy are the result of:
- Increased metabolic demands
- Hormonal and anatomic changes
How long do physiologic changes in pregnancy last?
- Begin early in pregnancy
- Last into the postpartum period
When do cardiovascular changes begin during pregnancy?
- Early as the 4th week
- Continue to the postpartum period
What happens to maternal heart rate (HR) at term?
Increases by 20% to 30% at term.
How much does Cardiac Ouput increases during pregnancy?
- Increases ~ 40% over nonpregnant values.
- Starts in the fifth week of pregnancy.
What factors contribute to the increase in cardiac output during pregnancy?
- Increase in stroke volume (SV) (20%–50%)
- To a lesser extent, heart rate (HR).
What percentage of the cardiac output perfuses the gravid uterus at term?
- Approximately 10%
Why does cardiac output increase immediately after delivery?
- Due to autotransfusion of blood from the contracting uterus.
- Increased venous return from aortocaval decompression.
- Increases 80% above pre-labor values
How does the position of the heart change during pregnancy?
- During pregnancy, the diaphragm is displaced cephalad, shifting the heart up and to the left.
- Making the cardiac silhouette appear enlarged on x-ray examination.
What is the percentage % increase of Blood volume during pregnancy?
- 25% to 40% throughout pregnancy.
- To prepare for normal blood loss associated with delivery.
What are the changes of Plasma volume and RBC volume during pregnancy?
- Plasma volume increases by 40%-50%
- RBC volume increases by only 20%.
What are the normal blood loss ranges for vaginal delivery and uncomplicated cesarean delivery?
- Normal blood loss for vaginal delivery is less than 500 mL.
- Uncomplicated cesarean delivery, it is 500 to 1000 mL.
What compensatory mechanisms help tolerate blood losses at delivery?
- Increased total Blood volume.
- Increased Plasma volume.
These mechanism help tolerate blood loss.
How is the Systemic vascular resistance (SVR) affected during pregnancy?
- Decreases by 21% by the end of a term pregnancy.
SVR reduction during pregnancy is primarily due to reduced resistance in the following:
SVR= Systemic Vascular Resistant
- Uteroplacental vascular beds
- Pulmonary vascular beds
- Renal vascular beds
- Cutaneous vascular beds
How much does Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) decreases during pregnancy?
Up to 15 mm Hg
Resulting in a decrease in MAP.
Aortocaval compression, and what happens when it occurs?
- Decreases venous return to the heart and arterial flow to the uterus and lower extremities.
- Occurs when the gravid uterus compresses both the vena cava and the aorta.
- AKA: Aortocaval compression, or “syndrome of supine hypotension,”
What are the consequences of aortocaval compression?
- Decreased cardiac output
- Compromise fetal perfusion
- Cause the mother to loose consciousness.
How can the compressive effect of the uterus on the vena cava and aorta be reduced?
- By elevating the mother’s right torso by 15- 30 degrees.
- This maneuver is known as the left displacement of the uterus.
When should left displacement of the uterus be used?
- For anyone in their second or third trimester of pregnancy.
- Alleviate aortocaval compression and its associated risks.
Aortocaval Compression
What factors in the coagulation cascade increase during pregnancy?
- Factors I (fibrinogen), VII, VIII, IX, X, & XII increase concentration.
- Through pregnancy and peak at term.
How does von Willebrand factor (vWF) change during pregnancy?
- vWF increases up to 400% at term.
What happens to factors XI and XIII during pregnancy?
Tend to decrease during pregnancy.
How do fibrinogen levels change during pregnancy?
- In the nonpregnant state average from 200 to 400 mg/dL.
- Late in pregnancy normally at least 400 mg/dL and may reach as high as 650 mg/dL.
What typically happens to the platelet count in the third trimester of pregnancy?
Remains stable or may be slightly decreased in the third trimester.
What is the overall trend in white blood cell count during pregnancy?
- WBC tends to rise during pregnancy.
What causes capillary engorgement in the upper airway during pregnancy?
Results in a narrowed glottic opening and edema in the:
- Nasal.
- Oral pharynx.
- Larynx.
- Trachea.
Why should nasal intubation be generally avoided in pregnant individuals?
- Due to the risk of a narrowed glottic opening and upper airway edema.
- A 6.5-to-7-mm cuffed oral endotracheal tube is recommended when intubation is necessary.
What might be beneficial for obese pregnant patients with enlarged breasts during intubation?
- May benefit from the use of a short-handled laryngoscope during intubation.
- Data handle laryngoscope
How does oxygen (O2) consumption change during term pregnancy?
- Increases by up to 33% at rest.
- 100% or more during the second stage of labor in term pregnancy.
What causes the increase in minute ventilation during term pregnancy?
- Primarily due to a 40% increase in tidal volume.
- At term is increased by 50%,
- The respiratory rate remains unchanged or increases by only 10%.
What happens to the normal arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (Paco2) during pregnancy?
- By 12 weeks of gestation, the normal Paco2 decreases to approximately 30 to 32 mm Hg.
- Remains in this range throughout pregnancy.
How are functional residual capacity (FRC), expiratory reserve volume, and residual volume affected during pregnancy?
- FRC, expiratory reserve volume, and residual volume decrease.
- Primarily due to upward pressure on the diaphragm, resembling restrictive lung disease.
Factors contributing to rapid arterial desaturation in the apneic pregnant patient:
- The combination of decreased FRC (20%)
- Increased oxygen (O2) consumption in pregnancy