Obstetrics Flashcards
What is the most common site for ectopic pregnancies?
Ampulla of the fallopian tube
What are risk factors for ectopic pregnancy?
Previous ectopic pregnancy
Previous pelvic inflammatory disease
Previous surgery to fallopian tubes
IUD
Older age (>35)
Smoking
IVF
Being under 18 at first sexual intercourse
Black race
What are classic presenting features of an ectopic pregnancy?
Presents at 6-8 weeks
Missed period
Constant pain in right or left iliac fossa
Vaginal bleeding
Lower abdominal or pelvic tenderness
Cervical motion tenderness
Dizziness/syncope (blood loss)
Shoulder tip pain (peritonitis)
What is the management for ectopic pregnancy?
No pain, no visible heartbeat, unruptured, <35mm, HCG < 1500 IU/l = Expectant management
HCG<5000IU/l + combined absense of intrauterine pregnancy = methotrexate
Pain, >35mm, visible heartbeat, HCG > 5000IU/l = surgery –> laparoscopic salpingectomy/salpingotomy
What is the investigation of choice for diagnosing a miscarriage?
Transvaginal US
What is the management of miscarriage?
Less than 6 weeks = Expectant if no pain or signs of ectopic
More than 6 weeks:
Referral to early pregnancy unit
Expectant
Medical –> Misoprostol (softens the cervix and stimulates uterine contractions)
Surgical –> Vacuum aspiration
What is a threatened miscarriage?
Patient presents with vaginal bleeding but the pregnancy is still viable
Cervical os is closed
What is a missed miscarriage?
A gestational sac before 20 weeks that contains a non-viable fetus, without the symptoms of expulsion
May have light vaginal bleeding but no flooding or pain
Cervical os close
What is an inevitable miscarriage?
Heavy vaginal bleed with an open cervical os
Nothing can be done to prevent miscarriage
What is an incomplete miscarriage?
Not all products of conception have been expelled
Pain and bleeding
Open cervical os
What is a complete miscarriage?
Full miscarriage with no remaining products of conception
What is the cause of hyperemesis gravidarum?
In pregnancy, the placenta produces human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), which is responsible for nausea and vomiting
Higher levels of HCG (molar pregnancies, multiple pregnancies) lead to more severe symptoms
What is the medical management of hyperemesis gravidarum?
1st line = prochlorperazine
2nd line = cyclizine
3rd line = ondansetron
4th line = metoclopramide
Ranitidine/omeprazole if acid reflux is a problem
What is a hydatidiform mole/molar pregnancy?
A tumour that grows like a pregnancy inside the uterus.
Complete mole = two sperm cells fertilise an empty ovum, and start to divide but do not form any foetal material
Partial mole = two sperm cells fertilise a normal ovum at the same time, now having 3 sets of chromosomes, and divides, may form some foetal material
What factors indicate molar pregnancy instead of normal pregnancy?
More severe morning sickness
Vaginal bleeding
Increased uterine enlargement
Abnormally high HCG
Thyrotoxicosis
What is the management of a molar pregnancy?
Evacuation of the uterus
Send products for histological examination
Follow up and check for metastases
What is the classic triad of pre-eclampsia features?
Hypertension (pregnancy-induced)
Proteinuria
Oedema
What are the risk factors for pre-eclampsia?
High risk:
Pre-existing hypertension
Previous hypertension in pregnancy
Existing autoimmune condition eg. SLE
Diabetes
Chronic kidney disease
Moderate risk:
Older than 40
BMI>35
More than 10 years since last pregnancy
First pregnancy
Multiple pregnancy
Family history of pre-eclampsia
What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia?
Headache
Visual disturbance
Nausea and vomiting
Upper abdominal or epigastric pain
Oedema
Reduced urine output
Brisk reflexes
What is the management of pre-eclampsia?
Prophylactic aspirin from 12 weeks until birth if 1 high-risk factor or more than 1 moderate-risk factors
Monitoring –> BP, symptoms, urine dipstick
Aim for BP below 135/85
Labetolol (first line medication)
Nifedipine (second line)
Methyldopa (third line)
What is eclampsia?
Seizures associated with pre-eclampsia
What is the management of eclampsia?
IV magnesium sulphate
What does HELLP stand for?
Haemolysis
Elevated Liver enzymes
Low Platelets
What is HELLP syndrome?
A combination of features that occur as a complication of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia
What are the risk factors for gestational diabetes?
Previous gestational diabetes
Previous macrosomic baby (>4.5kg)
BMI>30
Black Caribbean, Middle Eastern or South Asian ethnicity
Family history of diabetes (first degree relative)
What presenting features suggest gestational diabetes?
Large-for-date foetus
Polyhydramnios
Glucose on urine dipstick
What is the initial investigation of choice for gestational diabetes?
Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)
Performed in the morning after fasting
Patient then drinks 75g of glucose in solution
Normal glucose before = <5.6mmol/l
Normal glucose after 2 hours = <7.8mmol/l
(5-6-7-8)
What is the management of gestational diabetes?
Fasting glucose <7mmol/l = diet and exercise for 1-2 weeks, then metformin, then insulin
Fasting glucose >7mmol/l OR >6mmol/l with macrosomia = Start insulin +/- metformin
What is the cause of anaemia in pregnancy?
In pregnancy, the total blood volume increases
This means that the Hb concentration is decreased
What is the management of anaemia in pregnancy?
Iron replacement
B12 replacement –> IM hydroxocobalamin/oral cyanocobalamin
Folic acid
What are the risk factors for VTE in pregnancy?
Smoking
Parity >=3
Age>35
BMI>30
Reduced mobility
Multiple pregnancy
Pre-eclampsia
Immobility
Family history
IVF pregnancy
What VTE prophylaxis is given in pregnancy?
Low molecular weight heparin –> asap in very-high risk (4 or more risk factors), at 28 weeks in high risk (3 risk factors)
What is the presentation of VTE in pregnancy?
Unilateral calf or leg swelling
Dilated superficial veins
Tenderness to the calf
Oedema
Colour changes to the leg
Signs of PE –> SoB, chest pain, cough etc
Why is VTE risk increased in pregnancy?
Hyper-coagulable state
What is placenta praevia?
When the placenta lies over the internal cervical os
What is the definition of low-lying placenta?
When the placenta is within 20mm of the internal cervical os
What are the grades of placenta praevia?
Grade 1 (minor) = Placenta is in the lower uterus but not reaching the internal cervical os
Grade 2 (marginal) = Placenta is reaching, but not covering, the internal os
Grade 3 (partial) = Placenta is partially covering the internal os
Grade 4 (complete) = Placenta is completely covering the internal os
What are the risk factors for placenta praevia?
Previous C section
Previous placenta praevia
Older maternal age
Maternal smoking
Structural uterine abnormality (eg. fibroids)
IVF
How is a diagnosis of placenta praevia made?
20 week anomaly scan identifies the position of the placenta
Many women are asymptomatic
May present with antepartum haemorrhage
What is the management of placenta praevia?
Transvaginal US for monitoring
Corticosteroids given between 34 and 35+6 weeks to promote fetal lung maturation
Planned C section at 36-37 weeks
Emergency C-section if labour is premature or any bleeding
What is placenta accreta?
When the placenta implants deeper, through and past the endometrium, making it difficult to separate the placenta after delivery
What are the risk factors for placenta accreta?
Previous placenta accreta
Previous miscarriage
Previous C section
Multigravida
Increased maternal age
Low-lying placenta or placenta praevia
What is the management of placenta accreva?
Planned delivery between 35 and 36+6 weeks
Recommended hysterectomy
Uterine preserving surgery
Expectant management –> risks of bleeding and infection
What is vasa praevia?
Where fetal vessels (two umbilical arteries and one umbilical vein) are in the fetal membranes and travel across the internal cervical os, outside the protection of the placenta or umbilical cord
What are the risk factors for vasa praevia?
Low lying placenta
IVF
Multiple pregnancy
What is the management of vasa praevia?
Corticosteroids to mature the fetal lungs
Planned C-section at 34-36 weeks
Emergency C-section if antepartum haemorrhage occurs
What is placental abruption?
When the placenta comes away from the uterine wall during pregnancy
What are the risk factors for placental abruption?
Previous placental abruption
Pre-eclampsia
Trauma
Multiple pregnancy
Multigravida
Increased maternal age
Smoking
Cocaine/amphetamine use
What is the presentation of placental abruption?
Sudden onset, continuous, severe abdominal pain
Vaginal bleeding
Shock (hypotension and tachycardia)
Abnormalities on CTG showing fetal distress
Woody abdomen on palpation
What is the management for placental abruption?
Obstetric emergency
Steroids to mature fetal lungs
Emergency C-section if mother is unstable or fetus is distressed
What is the definition of a stillbirth?
The birth of a dead fetus after 24 weeks gestation
What is cord prolapse?
When the umbilical cord descends below the presenting part of the fetus into the vagina after rupture of the fetal membranes
Significant risk of compression causing fetal hypoxia
What is the management of a prolapsed cord?
Move patient onto all fours whilst preparing for emergency C-section
Push presenting part back into the uterus to prevent compression
Fill bladder to elevate presenting part
Emergency C-section
What are the degrees of perineal tears?
First degree = Superficial damage with no muscle involvement
Second degree = Injury to perineal muscle but not involving anal sphincter
Third degree = Injury to perineum involving the anal sphincter
Fourth degree = Injury to perineum involving the anal sphincter and rectal mucosa
What is the management of perineal tears?
First degree = Does not require repair
Second degree = Suturing on the ward
Third or fourth degree = Repair in theatre
What are the risk factors for perineal tears?
Primigravida
Large babies
Precipitant labour
Shoulder dystocia
Forceps delivery