Obstetrics Flashcards
Placental Abruption
Separation of the placenta from the uterine wall, bleed into the space
= shock ≠ visible loss, constant pain, tender tense uterus, normal lie and presentation
Inv - distressed/ absent foetal HR
-> immediate c-section if distressed, if not observe + steroids <36wks or vaginal >36wks, induce vaginal if dead
Comp - shock, DIC, renal failure, PPH
Abruption: RF
A - Abruption before
B - Blood pressure
R - Ruptured membranes, prolonged or premature
U - Uterine injury/ trauma
P - Polyhydraminos, previous children
T - Twins
I - Infection
O - Old age
N - Narcotics (cocaine)
Placenta Praevia
Placenta lying in the lower uterine segment, risk of PPH
RF - multiparity, multiple pregnancy, prev C section
= shock ≈ loss, no pain, uterus not tender
Inv - DON’T DO PV exam, abdo US (incidental), TV US
-> if low at 20wks then rescan at 32wks, still present scan every 2 weeks, decide on delivery at 36-37wks, elective c-section for 3/4 (emergency c-section if labour before/ unstable or term bleeding)
- placenta reaches lower segment but not os
- reaches os but doesn’t cover it
- covers the os before dilation
- placenta completely covers os
Down’s Syndrome Screening
Combined test (11-14wks) - ^hCG, v PAPPA-A, thick nuchal translucency (US) thickened US
*Lower hCG in Edwards and Patau
Quadruple test (15-20wks) - ^inhibin A, ^hCG, v AFP, v oestriol
‘higher chance’ offered NIPT (99% spec/sens) or amniocentesis/ CVS
AFP
Protein produced by developing foetus
Increased in NTD, abdo wall defects, twins
Decreased in downs, edwards (18), maternal DM
Quadruple Test
AFP, uc Oestriol, HCG, Inhibin A
Downs - low, low, high, high
Edwards - low, low, low, normal
NTD - high, normal, normal, normal
High chance (>1 in 150)
Preterm Prelabour Rupture of the Membranes
Inv - sterile speculum exam (pooling of amniotic fluid in post vaginal vault), avoid DVE, placental PAMG1 or insulin-like GF protein 1, US (oligohydramnios)
-> admit, 10d PO erythromycin, antenatal steroids, consider delivery at 34 weeks
Comp - premature delivery (40% linked to PPROM), pulm hypoplasia, chorioamnionitis
Management of Miscarriage
Expectant: 7-14d watch and wait, next if doesn’t work
Medical or surgical if evidence of infection, risk of bleed (late T1, coagulopathies) or prev adverse experience with pregnancy
-> Medical
Missed: oral mifepristone, misoprostol 48hrs after, see Dr if no bleed in 24 hours
Incomplete: single dose misoprostol (PV/ PO)
-> Surgery; vacuum aspiration or ERPC
*Pregnancy test at 3wks to confirm
Amniotic fluid embolism
Reaction 2nd to fetal cells/ amniotic fluid in maternal bloodstream
RF - ^age, induction of labour
= most during labour, chills, sweating, anxiety, cough, v BP, ^HR, bronchospasm, arrhythmia, MI
-> supportive, critical care unit
Antenatal timetable
8-12wks = Booking, general info, BP, BMI, urine culture, FBC, blood group, rhesus, RC alloantibodies, Hb disease, syphilis, Hep B, HIV offered
10-14wks = Dating scan and Down’s screen, excl. multiple
16wks = review prev, iron if <110, BP, urine dip
18-21wks = Anomaly scan
*BP, dip, SFH at all below
28wks = screen Hb and allo, 1st anti-D dose
34wks = 2nd anti-D dose, labour info
36wks = presentation (offer ECV), BF info
38wks = routine
41wks = info on induction
Primip also get 25wks, 31wks, 40wks
Weight gain and breastfeeding
1/10 lose the 10% threshold of weight in week 1
-> examine infant, referral to midwife-led BF clinics, monitor weight until regains
Drugs to avoid in breastfeeding
Methotrexate
Benzos
Carbimazole, chemo drugs
Lithium
Aspirin
Sulphonylureas
Sulphonamides
Amiodarone
Ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol
Tetracycline
Breech Presentation
25% are breech at 28wks, 3% at term
RF - uterine malformation, fibroids, praevia, prem, poly/ oligohydramnios, foetal abnormality
-> offer ECV at 36wks (37wks if multiparous), plan vaginal or c-section
ECV contra if c-section required, APH in last 7d, abnormal CTG, major uterine anomaly, ruptured membranes, twins
Categories of C section urgency
1 - immediate threat to life, deliver <30 min
E.g., uterine rupture, major abruption, cord prolapse
2 - maternal or fetal compromise but not threatening life, <75 min
3 - required but both stable
4 - elective
VBAC: at 37wks+, 75% success if one previous c-section, contra if prev uterine rupture or classic C section scar
Cardiotocography (CTG)
Baseline bradycardia (<100): ^fetal vagal tone, beta blockers
Baseline tachycardia (>160): maternal fever, chorioamnionitis, hypoxia, prematurity
Loss of variability (<5): hypoxia, prematurity
Early deceleration (starts with onset of contraction, returns to normal at end of it): harmless head compression
Late deceleration (lags onset of contraction, returns >30secs after end): fetal stress e.g., asphyxia
Variable deceleration (independent of contractions): cord compression
Chickenpox in Pregnancy
Management of exposure
-> any doubt if mum has had it previously then check IgG, oral acyclovir 7-14d after exposure
Management of chicken pox:
-> specialist advice, PO acyclovir if <24hrs of rash and 20wk+ of pregnancy, consider if under 20 weeks
Comp - 5x pneumonitis in mum, fetal varicella syndrome (exposed <20wk, scars, small eyes/ head, limb hypoplasia, LD), neonatal varicella (rash 5d before- 2d after birth, 20% mort), shingles in infancy
Chorioamnionitis
Life-threatening, ascending bacterial infection of amniotic fluid/ membranes/ placenta
PF - PPROM
-> prompt delivery, IV Abx
Eclampsia
Development of seizures in association with pre-eclampsia (new proteinuria and HTN after 20wks)
-> MgSO4 (4g bolus + 1g/hr, until 24hrs from last seizure or delivery), calcium gluconate if Mg resp depression
*Monitor RR, urine output, reflexes, o2 sats