Obstetrics Flashcards
When is maternal cardiac output the highest?
Immediately following delivery: this is because venous compression is relieved, there is some auto transfusion from uterine contraction, and there is no longer fetal dependence on mother’s circulation
It will fall rapidly and be back to normal around 2 weeks
What are the two hemodynamic parameters that either do not change, or decrease in pregnancy?
CVP remains the SAME, and venous capacitance increases, meaning that SVR DECREASES. Everything else, including HR, SV, volume, plasma volume, RBC mass increase
What are the respiratory changes seen during ACTIVE LABOR?
- Increased MV due to Increased TV and RR
- Decreased PaCO2, leading to a L shift in the O2 dissociation curve
- Increased O2 consumption
- Decreased alveolar dead space due to an increase in CO
What are the two HR cutoffs for fetal bradycardia and their interventions?
- < 100 bpm: provide PPV
2. < 60 bpm: perform chest compressions at a rate of 3:1 (3 compressions, 1 breath)
What happens to coagulation factors in pregnancy? Which 2 are affected the most?
- Increase in factors
- Factor VII and fibrinogen are increased the most
- Resistance to protein C and levels of protein S decrease
- Factors XIII and XI, AT III and tPa decrease
What is the first line treatment for uterine atony? What treatment should you avoid in a patient with pre-eclempsia?
- Oxytocin given as a slow infusion. Do not give as a bolus or a rapid infusion, as this will cause uterine relaxation
- Avoid methylergotamine in patients with pre-eclempsia, as this causes massive vasoconstriction and can worsen HTN
What are the signs of amniotic fluid embolism?
Cardiogenic shock, consumptive coagulopathy, pulmonary HTN, and fetal bradycardia
What intervention should you use for cerclage placement with bulging cervix vs. prophylactic cerclage?
- Cerclage with bulging cervix requires uterine relaxation –> perform a GA, this will relax the uterus
- Prophylactic cerclage would be best performed under neuraxial technique (aka Spinal)
What places a person at a higher risk for PDPH?
Female gender
What mediates FHR variability?
PS tone
What causes early, late, and variable decelerations?
- Early: benign finding, due to compression of the head
- Late: due to hypoxia, seen with placental insufficiency
- Variable: due to umbilical cord compression –> the relationship to the contraction is variable
What factor is increased in pre-eclempsia?
- Thromboxane A2
What determines the low placental transfer of Bupivicaine?
High protein binding
What values indicate an AKI in a pregnant woman?
Serum Cr > 0.8 mg/dl
BUN > 13
What are the respective blocks available for stage 1 or stage 2 labor?
- Stage 1: Paracervical block – though this can lead to fetal bradycardia
- Stage 2: Pudendal block
What are the two placental abnormalities associated with Breech presentation?
- Cornual placenta
2. placenta previa
Describe the risks and benefits of performing a CS vs. a vaginal birth.
- CS: Decreased risk of INITIAL uterine rupture and maternal hemorrhage
- However, CS has more risks and a longer hospital stay than vaginal births
What is the MOA of Terbutaline?
B2 agonist that binds to the uterine muscle to activate adenylyl cyclase, which leads to decreased Ca
- can cause tachycardia and pulmonary edema