Obstetrics Flashcards
When can the combined test (blood & NT) be done for Downs Syndrome?
11 to 13+6 weeks
When is a booking visit usually done?
8 to 12 weeks
When can solely blood tests be done for Downs syndrome?
15 to 20 weeks
When is an anomaly scan done?
18 to 20+6 weeks
When is anti-D prophylaxis given?
28 weeks (+/- 34 weeks)
What investigations should be carried out at the booking visit?
Bloods (FBC, ABO, Rhesus, syphilis, HIV, HepB&C)
Urinalysis (MSSU for culture and sensitivities)
USS ( confirm viability, no of fetuses, gestation)
Is HCG increased or decreased in babies with downs syndrome?
Increased
Is PAPP-A increased or decreased in babies with downs syndrome?
Decreased
Is AFP increased or decreased in babies with downs syndrome?
Decreased
In what circumstances would AFP be raised in pregnancy?
Multiple pregnancy, placental abruption, anencephaly, spina bifida
What level of risk from the initial downs syndrome testing warrants invasive testing?
Risk of 1 in 150 or more
What are the two invasive tests for Downs syndrome?
Chorionic Villous sampling
Amniocentesis
When is chorionic villous sampling carried out?
11-13 weeks
When is amniocentesis carried out?
15+ weeks
What is the risk of miscarriage in chorionic villous sampling?
2%
What is the risk of miscarriage with amniocentesis?
1%
When should Anti-D be given acutely?
Within 72 hours of a sensitising event (e.g. CVS, amniocentesis, ectopic, miscarriage, termination)
How is Anti-D administered?
IM injection into deltoid muscle
What maternal factors can cause poor growth of the fetus?
Age (>35, <16), low socioeconomic status, parity (0 or >5), interpregnancy interval (<6 months, >120 months), medical conditions (e.g. SLE, asthma, pre-eclampsia etc), previous SGA, drug abuse, ART, maternal infection (TORCH, malaria, TB, UTIs, BV)
What fetal factors can cause poor growth?
Chromosomal anomalies (trisomies 13, 18, 21) Major congenital anomalies Congenital infections Multiple pregnancy Genetic syndromes
What placental factors can cause poor growth?
Placental dysfunction (e.g. pre-eclampsia) Placental abruption
What is symmetrical IUGR?
Global growth restriction
What are the causes of symmetrical IUGR?
Aneuploidy, infection, maternal substance abuse
What is an asymmetrical IUGR?
Reduced abdominal circumference (normal head circumference, biparietal diameter and femur length)
What are the causes of an asymmetrical IUGR?
Placental insufficiency
What are the main features of IUGR?
Decreased fundal height
Reduced liqor
Reduced fetal movements
What investigations should be done to assess growth of fetuses?
CTG
Biophysical assessment (looking at fetal movement, breathing, tone and liqor)
Doppler USS of umbilical artery
What does absent or reversed end diastolic flow on doppler USS of the umbilical artery indicate?
It indicates placental resistance which means there is a problem. The placenta is usually a low resistance, high flow organ.
What are the causes of large for dates?
Constitutionally large Polyhydramnios Multiple pregnancy Diabetes Beckwith-Widemann syndrome
What are the causes of polyhydramnios?
Twins, fetal anomaly, maternal diabetes, idiopathic, hydrops fetalis
What is Hydrops fetalis?
Abnormal accumulation of fluid in 2 or more fetal compartments. Caused by rhesus disease, infection, congenital anomalies
What are some symptoms of polyhydramnios for the mother?
Discomfort, breathlessness, heartburn
What are some potential complications of polyhydramnios?
Cord prolapse, placental abruption, preterm labour
How is polyhydramnios managed?
Expectant management
Which type of twins are at the most risk of complications?
Monochorionic monozygotic
What are the signs/symptoms of multiple pregnancy?
Exaggerated pregnancy symptoms, high AFP, large for dates
What is twin to twin transfusion syndrome?
Placental anastamoses result in blood being moved disproportionately from one twin to another. Donor twin becomes dehydrated and has reduced growth. Recipient twin becomes fluid overloaded.
What twin type is at risk of TTS?
Monochorionic twins
Can twins be delivered normally?
Yes as long as one is cephalic
What dose of folic acid should pre-existing diabetic patients take?
5mg
In pregnant pre-existing diabetics, what drugs should be stopped/ continued?
All should be stopped except metformin and insulin
What are complications of pre-existing diabetes and pregnancy?
Hypoglycaemia unawareness Pre term labour Stillbirth Polyhydramnios Macrosomia or IUGR Congenital anomalies
When should diabetics be offered induction of labour?
From 38 weeks to prevent macrosomia
What are complications for large for dates babies?
Risk of birth injuries e.g. shoulder dystocia
Prone to immaturity of suckling and swallowing
Hypoglycaemia
Hypocalcaemia
Polycythaemia (increased risk of jaundice)
By what week of pregnancy is the placenta functional?
Week 5
What vessel transports oxygen rich fetal blood?
Umbilical vein
What vessel transports oxygen low maternal blood?
Uterine vein
What 3 things mean fetal oxygen carrying capacity is good?
Fetal Hb can carry more oxygen
Fetus’ have more Hb
The Bohr Effect
What happens to cardiac output in pregnancy?
Increases (can cause ECG changes, murmurs etc)
What happens to stroke volume in pregnancy?
Increases
What happens to blood pressure in pregnancy?
Decreases in 2nd trimester and then steadily starts to increase until term
What happens to respiratory rate in pregnancy?
Increases
What happens to both tidal volume and minute volume in pregnancy?
Increase
Do oxygen requirements in pregnancy increase or decrease?
Increase
What happens to plasma volume in pregnancy?
Increases
What happens to RBC count in pregnancy?
Increases
What happens to Hb in pregnancy?
Decreases by dilution (due to increased RBC)
What happens to platelets in pregnancy?
Decrease
What happens to GFR in pregnancy?
Increases
When does HCG peak?
10 weeks then declines
What oestrogen is an indicator of fetal vitality?
Estriol
When is the anabolic phase of pregnancy?
1-20 weeks
When is the catabolic phase of pregnancy?
21-40 weeks
What hormone causes growth of the ductile system in the breast?
Oestrogen
What hormone causes the development of the lobular alveolar complex in the breast?
Progesterone
What hormone stimulates milk production?
Prolactin
What hormone is released following a suckling stimulus?
Oxytocin
What is pre-existing HTN of pregnancy defined as?
Hypertension occurring before pregnancy/before 20 weeks gestation
How should women with pre-existing HTN be managed?
Switch patient to labetalol from ACEi/ARB
Do urine dip
Start aspirin 75mg from 12 weeks
What is pregnancy induced hypertension?
Hypertension occurring after 20 weeks with NO proteinuria or symptoms of pre-eclampsia