Obstetrics Flashcards
A 27-year-old woman presents with nausea and vomiting for the past 2 weeks. Symptoms are worse in the morning, but can occur at any time during the day. She has decrease in appetite. Her LMP was 6 weeks ago. Physical examination is unremarkable.
Which of the following is the best next step in the management of this patient?
a. Complete blood count
b. Beta-HCG
c. HIDA scan
d. Comprehensive metabolic panel
e. Urinalysis
B. A pregnancy test should be done first in all symptomatic women of childbearing age. Her LMP occurred 6 weeks ago and the patient is experiencing “morning sickness.” Morning sickness is caused by an increase in beta-HCG produced by the placenta. This can occur until the 12th to 14th week of pregnancy. A complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), and urinalysis are used to evaluate the severity of dehydration, not the etiology. A HIDA scan is done in patients with suspected cholecystitis.
A 20-year-old woman presents to the office because she believes that she is pregnant. Her sexual partner usually pulls out, but did not do so 2 weeks ago. She is now 4 weeks late for her menstruation.
Which of the following is one of the first signs of pregnancy found on physical exam?
a. Quickening
b. Goodell sign
c. Ladin sign
d. Linea nigra
e. Chloasma
B. One of the first signs of pregnancy that is seen on PE is the Goodell sign, softening the cervix that is felt first at 4 weeks. Quickening is the first time the mother feels fetal movement.
This is the softening of the cervix
Goodell sign (4 weeks, 1st trimester)
This is the softening of the midline of the uterus
Ladin sign (6 weeks, 1st tri)
There is blue discoloration of vagina and cervix
Chadwick sign (6-8 weeks, 1st tri)
There is small blood vessels/reddening of the palms
Telangiectasias/palmar erythema (first tri)
There is the “mask of pregnancy” is a hyperpigmentation of the face most commonly on forehead, nose, and cheeks; it can worsen with sun exposure
Chloasma (16 weeks, 2nd tri)
There is a line of hyperpigmentation that can extend from xiphoid process to pubic symphisis
Linea nigra (2nd tri)
What happens to cardiac output during pregnancy?
Increase
What happens to blood pressure during pregnancy?
Slightly lower (lowest point: 24-28 weeks)
What happens to the size of kidneys and ureters during pregnancy?
Increase
What happens to GFR during pregnancy?
Increase secondary to a 50% increase in plasma volume
What happens to the BUN/Creatinine ratio in pregnancy?
Decrease
What happens to PT, PTT, or INR in pregnancy?
None
What happens to fibrinogen in pregnancy?
Increase
How often should you see a pregnant patient in the first trimester?
every 4 to 6 weeks
When do you order ultrasound to confirm gestational age and check for nuchal translucency.
between 11 and 14 weeks
A 17-year-old woman presents for a routine prenatal checkup at 12 weeks. Which of the following is the most accurate method to establish gestational age?
a. Ultrasound
b. Beta-HCG
c. Pelvic exam
d. Fundal height
e. LMP
A. Ultrasound is the most accurate way of establishing gestational age at 11 to 14 weeks. Beta-HCG is unreliable in confirming dates, as the levels can be increased twins or decreased in early abortions. Pelvic exam and fundal height are not the most accurate methods to confirm dates because they may change with multiple gestations. A patient’s account of LMPis often unreliable because histories are inaccurately remembered.
When should you perform a triple or a quad screen for pregnant patients?
At 15 to 20 weeks (2nd tri)
What are the tests included in triple screen?
MSAFP, beta-HCG, Estriol
What are the tests included in quad screen?
MSAFP, beta-HCG, Estriol, Inhibin A
What does an increase in MSAFP indicate?
Dating error, neural tube defect, or abdominal wall defect
What is the interval of prenatal checkup in the 3rd trimester?
every 2 to 3 weeks until 36 weeks and every week after 36 weeks
What should you request at 27 weeks gestation?
CBC
If Hgb < 11, replace iron orally
What should you request at 24-28 weeks gestation?
Glucose load
If glucose > 140 at one hour, perform oral glucose tolerance test
What should you request at 36 weeks gestation?
- Cervical cultures for Chlamydia and Gonorrhea
- STD testing if patient was positive during pregnancy or has a risk factor
- Rectovaginal culture for group B Streptococcus
How would you go about the glucose load test?
Fasting or Nonfasting ingestion of 50g of glucose, and serum glucose check 1 hour later
How would you go about glucose tolerance test?
Fasting serum glucose, ingestion of 100g of glucose, serum glucose checks at 1, 2, and 3 hours. Elevated glucose during any two of these tests is gestational diabetes
When do you do Chorionic Villus Sampling?
at 10 to 13 weeks in advanced maternal age or known genetic disease in parent
How will you do Chorionic Villus Sampling?
catheter into intrauterine cavity to aspirate chorionic villi from placenta (can be done transabdominally or transvaginally)
When do you do Amniocentesis?
after 11 to 14 weeks for advanced maternal age ot known genetic disease in parent
How will you do Amniocentesis?
Needle transabdominally into the amniotic sac and withdraw amniotic fluid
A 29-year-old woman with a past medical history of chlamydia presents with left lower quadrant abdominal pain for the past eight hours. She also states that she has some abnormal vaginal bleeding. Her LMP was 6 weeks ago. On physical exam the patient’s temperature is 99F, heart rate is 100 bpm, blood pressure is 130/80 mmHg, and respiratory rate is 13 per minute.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
a. Ectopic pregnancy
b. Menstrual cramps
c. Diverticulitis
d. Ovarian torsion
e. Ovarian cyst
A. Diverticulitis causes left lower quadrant abdominal pain and rectal bleeding, not vaginal bleeding. The age range of the patients has almost no overlap between ectopic pregnancy and diverticulitis. Ovarian torsion and ovarian cysts do not cause vaginal bleeding. Menstrual cramps are not associated with an altered menstrual pattern.
What are the risk factors of Ectopic Pregnancy?
- Previous ectopic pregnancy (strongest risk factor)
- Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)
- Intrauterine devices (IUD)
What diagnostic tests should you order for Ectopic Pregnancy?
Beta-HCG: to confirm pregnancy
Ultrasound: to locate the site of implantation
Laparoscopy: invasive test and treatment to visualize the ectopic pregnancy
After baseline exams, what should you give to patients with unruptured ectopic pregnancy?
Methotrexate
After giving the first methotrexate dose to patients with unruptured ectopic pregnancy, what is the next step?
Check if there is a 15% decrease in B-HCG in 4 to 7 days
If after 4 to 7 days, patient with unruptured ectopic pregnancy came back with persistent levels of B-HCG, what should you do?
Give a second dose of methotrexate
If after the second dose of methotrexate, there is no decrease of B-HCG from baseline, what should you do?
Surgery
What are the exclusion criteria for Methotrexate?
- Immunodeficiency - methotrexate is an immunosuppressive drug
- Noncompliant patients
- Liver disease - hepatotoxicity
- Ectopic is 3.5 cm or larger
- Fetal heartbeat auscultated
- Breastfeeding
- Coexisting viable pregnancy
A 20-year-old woman presents to the emergency department for vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain for one day. She states that she is 15 weeks pregnant. Vital signs include temperature 99F, heart rate 100 bpm, blood pressure 110/75 mmHg, and respiratory rate 12 per minute. On pelvic exam, there is blood present in the vault. Ultrasound shows intrauterine bleeding, products of conception, and a dilated cervix.
Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis in this patient?
a. Complete abortion
b. Incomplete abortion
c. Inevitable abortion
d. Threatened abortion
e. Septic abortion
C. An inevitable abortion is characterized by intrauterine bleeding with a dilated cervix
Define Abortion.
Pregnancy that ends before 20 weeks gestation or a fetus less than 500 grams.
What is the most common cause of abortion?
Chromosomal abnormalities
This is a type of abortion with no products of conception found.
Complete abortion (follow-up in office)
This is a type of abortion with some products of conception found.
Incomplete abortion (D&C/Medical)
This is a type of abortion with products of conception intact, but intrauterine bleeding present and dilation of cervix.
Inevitable abortion (D&C/Medical)
This is a type of abortion with products of conception intact, intrauterine bleeding present, but NO dilation of cervix.
Threatened abortion (Bed rest, pelvic rest)
This is a type of abortion with death of fetus, but all products of conception present in the uterus
Missed abortion (D&C/Medical)
This is a type of abortion with infection of the uterus and the surrounding areas
Septic abortion (D&C and IV antibiotics such as levofloxacin and Metronidazole)