Obstetrics Flashcards
cWhat are the different drugs for:
Termination
Ectopic
Miscarriage
Termination = Mifepristone
Ectopic = Methotrexate
Miscarriage = Misoprostol
WHAT IS PRE-ECLAMPSIA?
Hypertension and proteinuria during pregnancy normally seen after 20 weeks
What are the high risk and moderate risk of developing pre-eclampsia?
- *High risk factors**
- Hypertensive disease in a previous pregnancy
- Chronic kidney disease
- Autoimmune disease, such as systemic lupus erythematosus or antiphospholipid syndrome
- Type 1 or type 2 diabetes
- Chronic hypertension
- *Moderate risk factors**
- First pregnancy
- Age 40 years or older
- Pregnancy interval of more than 10 years
- Body mass index (BMI) of 35 kg/m² or more at first visit
- Family history of pre-eclampsia
- Multiple pregnancy
What are the prevention methods for pre-eclampsia?
Why is this offered?
When is this offered?
- Low does aspirin 75mg
- >=1 high risk factors
- >=2 moderate
- Normally commenced at 12 weeks but before 16 weeks
What are the symptoms of pre-eclampsia?
- Headache
- Visual disturbance
- Epigastric and right upper quadrant pain
- Nausea and vomiting
What is the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia?
- BP >140/90
- FBC - High Hb
- Increase urea and creatinine
- Increase lactate dehydrogenase
What are the complications of pre-eclampsia?
- Eclampsia
- HELLP
- Cerebral haemorrhage
What are the categories of hypertension in pregnancy?
Pre-existing hypertension
Pregnancy-induced hypertension
Hypertension, no proteinuria or oedema
Pre-eclampsia
Hypertension, proteinuria and oedema
What is the treatment of pre-eclampsia?
>140/90
Oral labetalol hydrochloride
If not tolerated then nifedipine
>160/110
Admit to hospital
IV labetalol hydrochloride
Aiming for 135/85 mmHg
WHAT IS HELLP SYNDROME?
- Haemolysis
- Elevated liver enzymes
- Low platelets
Manifestation of pre-eclampsia
What are the symptoms of HELLP syndrome?
- Nausea & vomiting
- Right upper quadrant pain
- Lethargy
What is the treatment of HELLP syndrome?
Delivery of the baby
What should you do if a woman is past 37 weeks and is showing signs of pre-eclampsia?
IV magnesium sulphate and arrange for delivery of the baby
WHAT IS ECLAMPSIA?
Presence of tonic-clonic seizures in assocaited with a diagnosis of pre-eclampsia
What is the treatment of eclampsia?
- Magnesium sulphate is used to both prevent seizures in patients with severe pre-eclampsia and treat seizures once they develop
- Should be given once a decision to deliver has been made
- In eclampsia an IV bolus of 4g over 5-10 minutes should be given followed by an infusion of 1g / hour
- Urine output, reflexes, respiratory rate and oxygen saturations should be monitored during treatment
- Respiratory depression can occur: calcium gluconate is the first-line treatment for magnesium sulphate induced respiratory depression
- Treatment should continue for 24 hours after last seizure or delivery (around 40% of seizures occur post-partum)
When should magnesium treatment be stopped in eclampsia treatment?
Treatment should continue for 24 hours after last seizure or delivery (around 40% of seizures occur post-partum)
What is the treatment for respiratory depression caused by magnesium sulfate?
Calcium gluconate
What is the best anti-epileptic used in pregnancy?
Lamotrigine
WHAT IS ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION?
Hypertension with no secondary cause identified >140/90mmHg
What are the risk factors for essential hypertension?
Genetic variation
Aging
Obesity
Salt
Alcohol
Renin
Diabetes
How is essential hypertension diagnosed?
Blood pressure readings on 3 different occasions >140/90mmHg
What is the treatment for essential hypertension?
Lifestyle changes
- *<55 years of with type 2 diabetes**
1. ACE inhibitor - Ramipril, Captopril
2. Add calcium channel blocker - Amplodipine, Verapamil
3. Add thiazide-like diuretic e.g. Indapamide - *>55 years or black patients of African/Carribean descent**
1. Calcium channel blocker
2. Add ACE inhibitor
3. Add thiazide-like diuretic
What week is hypertension in pregnancy diagnosed?
20 weeks
What if an ACE inhibitor is not tolerated e.g. because of a cough
Offer angiotensin 2 receptor blocker - Candesartan, Azilsartan
WHAT IS PLACENTA PREVIA?
Placenta implants low in the uterus, covering part or all of the cervix
What are the different types of placenta previa?
Complete previa
The placenta covers the entire cervical opening
Partial previa
The placenta covers part of the cervical opening
Marginal previa
The placenta borders the cervix
What are the symptoms of placenta previa?
- Often none
- Not painful
Often after 24 weeks presentation
Can be:
- Small bleeds before large cramping
- Breech position
How is placenta previa diagnosed?
- Normally found at the routine 20 weeks scan
- Ultrasound with colour flow doppler
What is the treatment of placenta previa?
-
Little or no bleeding
- Bed rest, abstian from sex
-
Heavy bleeding
- Admission
- Blood transfusion
- C-section at 37 weeks - 38 weeks
WHAT IS PLACENTA ACCRETA?
Placenta accreta occurs when all or part of the placenta attaches abnormally to the myometrium (the muscular layer of the uterine wall).
Typically, the placenta detaches from the uterine wall after childbirth. With placenta accreta, part or all of the placenta remains attached. This can cause severe blood loss after delivery.
What is the cause of placenta accreta?
Abnormalities in the lining of the uterus
Typically due to scarring after a C-section or other uterine surgery
What are the symptoms of placenta acreta?
Placenta accreta often causes no signs or symptoms during pregnancy
Vaginal bleeding during the third trimester might occur.
What are the complications of placenta accreta?
Heavy vaginal bleeding
Can cause disseminated intravascular coagulopathy
Lung failure
Kidney failure
Premature birth
What is the diagnosis for placenta accreta?
Normally picked up on the 20 week scan
What is the treatment for placenta accreta?
- C-section and hyserectomy
- Curettage of the uterus, coupled with methotrexate
WHAT IS PLACENTA INCRETA?
Placenta invades even more deeply into the myometrium of the uterus
WHAT IS PLACENTAL ABRUPTION?
Placental abruption occurs when the placenta partly or completely separates from the inner wall of the uterus before delivery.
What are the risk factors for placental abruption?
The cause of placental abruption is often unknown.
- Multiparity
- Maternal trauma
- Increasing maternal age
- Polyhydramnios
- Proteinuric hypertension
- Cocaine use
What are the symptoms of palcental abruption?
Placental abruption is most likely to occur in the last trimester of pregnancy, especially in the last few weeks before birth.
Vaginal bleeding, ONLY IN 80% of cases
Abdominal pain (begin suddenly)
Back pain (begin suddenly)
Uterine tenderness or rigidity - WOODY
Uterine contractions, often coming one right after another
What is the diagnosis for placental abruption?
Largely clinical
- Evidence of shock
- Pain
- Uterine rigidity
- Absent fetal heart sounds
What is the management for placental abruption?
-
Fetus alive and < 36 weeks
- Fetal distress: immediate caesarean
- No fetal distress: observe closely, steroids, no tocolysis, threshold to deliver depends on gestation
-
Fetus alive and > 36 weeks
- Fetal distress: immediate caesarean
- No fetal distress: deliver vaginally
-
Fetus dead
- Induce vaginal delivery
WHAT IS A UTERINE RUPTURE?
When the muscular wall of the uterus tears during pregnancy or childbirth
This causes the baby to leek into the abdomen
What are the risk factors for a uterine rupture?
A uterine scar from a previous cesarean
What are the symptoms of a uterine rupture?
- Excessive vaginal bleeding
- Sudden pain between contractions
- Contractions that become slower or less intense
- Abnormal abdominal pain or soreness
- Recession of the baby’s head into the birth canal
- Bulging under the pubic bone
How is a uterine rupture diagnosed?
Often undiagnosed cause the symptoms are often sudden and non specific
What is the treatment of a uterine rupture?
Emergency exploratory laparotomy with ceserean delivery
A hysterectomy may be indicated if the woman is bleeding severely
WHAT IS THE CEVICAL SHOW?
Also called the bloody show or cervical mucus plug
It is a sign that labour is impending
What is the cervical plug (operculum)?
It is a plug which seals the cervical canal during pregnancy, it is formed by a small amount of cervical mucus
Wha is the cervical plug for?
Acts a barrier to deter bacteria into the uterus
Contains a mixture of antimicrobial agents, including immunoglobulins and antimicrobial peptides
When does the cervical plug come out?
When the cervix beings to dilate before labour
WHAT IS VASA PREVIA?
Where some fetal umbilical cord vessels run across the cervix
They are inside membranes and unprotected by the umbilical cord or placenta
What are the symptoms of vasa previa?
Often no symptoms at all
- Rupture of membranes followed immediately by vaginal bleeding
- Sometimes appear in labour, fetal distress (bradycardia and late decelerations) or stillbirth
- Sometimes there is vaginal bleeding which is darker than normal since fetal blood has less oxygen than the mother
What are the causes of vasa previa?
Velamentous cord
Umbilical cord goes into the membranes, resulting in vessels that are unprotected leading to the placenta
Biobed placenta
Two placentas
How is vasa previa diagnosed?
Not normally routinely checked for in pregnancy
If you have certain risk factors then:
Transvaginal ultrasound
What are the risk factors for vasa previa?
- Placenta previa
- Previous C-section
- IVF pregnancy
What is the treatment for vasa previa?
If picked up on scan then plans can be made to resolve
- Sometimes resolves on its own
- Pelvic rest
- Planned C-section at 35-37 weeks
WHAT IS A POSTPARTUM HAEMORRHAGE?
Defined as excessive blood loss after childbirth >500mls
What are the different types of postpartum haemorrhage?
Primary
Occurs in the first 24 hours after delivery
Secondary
Occurs between after 24 hours and 6 weeks after delivery
What is the cause of a primary postpartum haemorrhage?
4 T’s
Tone: Uterine atony - failure of uterus to contract down after delivery of the placenta
Trauma
Tissue: Retained placenta - placenta remains in the uterus and the vessels continue to bleed
Thromib: Blood clotting disorders - haemophilia, von Willebrand disease
What conditions are more at risk of developing primary postpartum haemorrhage?
Placenta previa
Multiple pregnancy
Pre-eclampsia
What is the management of a primary postpartum haemorrhage?
- IV syntocinon (oxytocin)
- IM carboprost
- Intrauterine balloon tamponade
- B-Lynch suture, ligation of the uterine arteries or internal iliac arteries
- If severe, uncontrolled haemorrhage then a hysterectomy is sometimes performed as a life-saving procedure
How can you prevent primary postpartum haemorrhage?
- Oxytocin
- Misprostol
WHAT IS THE CAUSE OF A SECONDARY POSTPARTUM HAEMORRHAGE?
Infection - endometritis
Placental tissue remains in the womb (retained products of conception)
What are the symptoms of a secondary postpartum haemorrhage?
- Fever
- Abdo pain
- Vaginal bleeding
What are the investigations for a secondary postpartum haemorrhage?
- FBC
- Blood cultures
- Ultrasound - used if RPOC is suspected
What is the management of a secondary postpartum haemorrhage?
Sepsis - urgent referral to the hospital
Speculum exam - remove of clots
Endometritis - IV piperacillin/tazobactim
WHAT ARE BABY BLUES?
During the first week after childbirth, many women get what’s often called the “baby blues”.
Women can experience a low mood and feel midly depressed at a time when they expect they should feel happy after having a baby.
What is the cause of baby blues?
“Baby blues” are probably due to the sudden hormonal and chemical changes that take place in your body after childbirth
What are the symptoms of baby blues?
Feeling emotional and bursting into tears for no apparent reason
Feeling irritable or touchy
Low mood
Anxiety and restlessness
All these symptoms are normal and usually only last for a few days.
How long does the baby blues last?
3-7 days
What is the treatment for baby blues?
Get as much rest as you can.
Accept help from family and friends.
Connect with other new moms.
Create time to take care of yourself.
Avoid alcohol and recreational drugs, which can make mood swings worse.
WHAT IS POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION?
Depression after the birth of your baby
What are the symptoms of postpartum depression?
- Usual features of depression
- Fears about baby’s health
- Maternal deficiencies
- Marital tensions including loss of sexual interest
When does postpartum depression occur?
1 month and 3 months
How do you diagnose postpartum depression?
Edinburgh scale
Order blood tests to determine whether an underactive thyroid is contributing to your signs and symptoms
Order other tests, if warranted, to rule out other causes for your symptoms
What is the treatment for postpartum depression?
Cognitive behavioural therapy may be beneficial.
Certain SSRIs such as sertraline and paroxetine* may be used if symptoms are severe** - whilst they are secreted in breast milk it is not thought to be harmful to the infant
WHAT IS POSTPARTUM PSYCHOSIS?
Postpartum psychosis (or puerperal psychosis) is a severe mental illness. It starts suddenly in the days, or weeks, after having a baby.
Symptoms vary, and can change rapidly.
What is the cause of postpatrum psychosis?
Several things seem to play a part in postpartum psychosis. Your family history and genetic factors are important - you are more likely to have postpartum psychosis if a close relative has had it.
Hormone levels and disturbed sleep patterns may also be involved
What are the symptoms of postpatrum psychosis?
- Confusion and disorientation
- Obsessive thoughts about your baby
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Sleep disturbances
- Excessive energy and agitation
- Paranoia
- Attempts to harm yourself or your baby
What is the treatment of postpartum psychosis?
- Urgent admission to hospital
- Preferably with the baby
- Antipsychotic
- ECT
What is the risk of developing postpartum psychosis again after a previous pregnancy with it?
25-50%
WHAT IS AN PUERPERAL INFECTION?
A puerperal infection occurs when bacteria infect the uterus and surrounding areas after a woman gives birth.
It’s also known as a postpartum infection.
What are the different types of puerperal infections?
Endometritis
An infection of the uterine lining
Myometritis
An infection of the uterine muscle
Parametritis
An infection of the areas around the uterus
What are the symptoms of puerperal infections?
fever
pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis caused by a swollen uterus
foul-smelling vaginal discharge
pale skin, which can be a sign of large volume blood loss
chills
feelings of discomfort or illness
headache
loss of appetite
increased heart rate
How is a puerperal infection diagnosed?
- Physical exam
- High vaginal swab
- Throat swab
- Blood culture
- Urine analysis
How is a puerperal infection treated?
- IV Antibitoics in hospital
- Clindamycin + Gentamycin
WHAT IS DEFINED AS PUERPERAL PYREXIA?
Temp above 38 degrees
What is the cause of puerperal pyrexia?
Endometritis: most common cause
Urinary tract infection
Wound infections (perineal tears + caesarean section)
Mastitis
Venous thromboembolism
What is the management of puerperal pyrexia?
- If endometritis is suspected the patient should be referred to hospital for intravenous antibiotics
- Clindamycin and gentamicin until afebrile for greater than 24 hours
WHAT IS VTE IN PREGNANCY?
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) refers to the formation of a thrombus within veins
What are the risk factors for a VTE?
- Age > 35
- Body mass index > 30
- Parity > 3
- Smoker
- Gross varicose veins
- Current pre-eclampsia
- Immobility
- Family history of unprovoked VTE
- Low risk thrombophilia
- Multiple pregnancy
- IVF pregnancy
What are the symptoms of a VTE in pregnancy?
DVT
Leg pain and discomfort (the left is more commonly affected), swelling, tenderness, oedema, increased temperature and a raised white cell count
PE
Dyspnoea, pleuritic chest pain, haemoptysis, faintness, collapse. The patient may have focal signs in the chest, tachypnoea, a raised jugular venous pressure (JVP) and there may be ECG changes (S1Q3T3)
How do you diagnose a VTE in pregnancy?
DVT
Duplex ultrasound scan
PE
Chest X-ray
ECG
Compression duplex ultrasound
What is the treatment for a VTE in pregnancy?
Four or more risk factors
Low molecular weight heparin antenatally + 6 weeks postpartum
Three risk factors
Low molecular weight heparin from 28 weeks + 6 weeks postpartum
If DVT diagnosis is made shortly before delivery
Continue LMW Heparin for 3 weeks postpartum
Anti-Xa acitvity to monitor is it’s working
What blood thinners should be avoided in pregnancy?
DOAC
Warfarin
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF ANAEMIA DURING PREGNANCY?
Iron-deficiency anemia
Folate-deficiency anemia
Vitamin B12 deficiency
What type of sized anaemia does each anaemia cause?
Folate/B12 - macrocytic
Iron deficiency anaemia - microcytic
What are the symptoms of anaemia in pregnancy?
- Pale skin, lips, and nails
- Feeling tired or weak
- Dizziness
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid heartbeat
- Trouble concentrating
What are the risks with iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy?
A preterm or low-birth-weight baby
A blood transfusion (if you lose a significant amount of blood during delivery)
Postpartum depression
A baby with anemia
A child with developmental delays
What are the risks with folate deficiency anaemia?
Preterm or low-birth-weight baby
Baby with a serious birth defect of the spine or brain (neural tube defects)
What are the tests for anaemia?
Hemoglobin test
Hematocrit test
What is the treatment for iron deficiency anaemia?
- Give oral iron therapy
- Different for different times
When should women take folic acid?
- women should take 400mcg of folic acid until the 12th week of pregnancy
- women at higher risk of conceiving a child with a NTD should take 5mg of folic acid from before conception until the 12th week of pregnancy
What are the causes of folic acid deficiency?
- Phenytoin
- Methotrexate
- Pregnancy
- Alcohol excess
Why would you give some women 5mg of folic acid?
- Either partner has a NTD, they have had a previous pregnancy affected by a NTD, or they have a family history of a NTD
- The woman is taking antiepileptic drugs or has coeliac disease, diabetes, or thalassaemia trait.
- The woman is obese (defined as a body mass index [BMI] of 30 kg/m2 or more)
WHAT IS RHESUS/HAEMOLYTIC DISEASE OF THE NEWBORN?
Hemolytic disease of the newborn (HDN) is a blood problem in newborn babies.
It occurs when your baby’s red blood cells break down at a fast rate.
It’s also called erythroblastosis fetalis.
What is the cause of haemolytic disease of the newborn?
HDN happens most often when an Rh negative mother has a baby with an Rh positive father.
If the baby’s Rh factor is positive, like his or her father’s, this can be an issue if the baby’s red blood cells cross to the Rh negative mother.
What are the symptoms of haemolytic disease of the newborn?
Mother
- A yellow coloring of amniotic fluid
Baby
- Oedematous (hydrops fetalis, as liver devoted to RBC production albumin falls)
- Jaundice, anaemia, hepatosplenomegaly
- Heart failure
- Kernicterus (brain damage)
How do you diagnose haemolytic disease of the newborn?
-
Blood test
- Rh positive antibodies in your blood (anti-D IgG)
-
Percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling
- Coombs test: direct antiglobulin, will demonstrate antibodies on RBCs of baby
- Kleihauer test: add acid to maternal blood, fetal cells are resistant
-
Ultrasound
- Enlarged organs or fluid buildup in your baby
-
Amniocentesis
- Amount of bilirubin in the amniotic fluid
What is the treatment for haemolytic disease of the newborn?
- Transfusions
- Phototherapy
How is haemolytic disease of the newborn prevented?
When is medicine given?
If you’re Rh negative and have not been sensitized, you’ll get a medicine called Rh immunoglobulin (RhoGAM)
28 + 34 weeks
WHAT IS A UTI IN PREGNANCY?
A UTI occurs when bacteria from somewhere outside of a woman’s body gets inside her urethra (basically the urinary tract) and causes an infection.
What is the cause of UTI in pregnancy?
Growing fetus can put pressure on the bladder and urinary tract. This traps bacteria or causes urine to leak.
Ureteral dilation, when the urethra expands and continues to expand until delivery.
Urine to become more still in the urethra. This allows bacteria to grow.
Urine gets more concentrated. It also has certain types of hormones and sugar. These can encourage bacterial growth and lower your body’s ability to fight off “bad” bacteria trying to get in.
What are the symptoms of UTI in pregnancy?
burning or painful urination
cloudy or blood-tinged urine
pelvic or lower back pain
frequent urination
feeling that you have to urinate frequently
fever
nausea or vomiting
What complications can UTI in pregnancy cause?
Early labour
Small baby
What is the treatment for UTI in pregnancy?
- First line - Nitrofurantoin
- Second line - Amoxicillin or cefalexin