Obstetrics and Gynaecology Flashcards
Antenatal history taking
- age, gestation, BMI
- gravidity and parity
- previous births - dates, gestation, weight, delivery, any complications
- fetal movements (from 20 weeks), pain, PV loss, bleeding
- all other history
Antenatal testing
Routines:
12 week dating/booking scan - nuchal translucency for structural abnormality also
20 week anomaly scan
- check fetal growth, number of babies and placental site
- blood group, Hb and rhesus status
- height and weight
- urine (UTIs need to be treated)
Additional screening:
- 8-12 week - infectious disease/BBVs, sickle cell, thalassaemias
- 11-14/40 - combined blood test for T18, T13, T21 (Edward’s/Patau’s/Down’s) (1/150 is high risk) - no later
- 18-21/40 - structural abnormalities
Obstetric examination
- well/unwell - appearance, pulse (10-20bpm faster), BP (lower), temp, resp rate, sats
- normal hyperpigmentation (linea nigra, striae gravidarum)
- symphysis fundal height - 20 weeks at umbilicus + 1cm for every weeks gestation
- palpate masses (foetus/bladder) and tenderness
- activity? foetal movements, auscultate heart, CTG
- liquor volume
Foetal palpation
FLAPPES
Fundus
Lie (longitudinal/transverse/oblique relation of spinal columns)
Attitude (relation of feotus to itself, flexion of limbs)
Presentation (cephalic/breech/arm/compound)
Position (OA, OT, OP)
Engagement (0/5 = no head palpable above pelvic brim, engaged, 5/5= completely above brim)
Summary
Causes of large or small bump for dates
Big - SFH > dates
- multiple pregnancy
- polyhydramnios
- large BMI
- fibroids
Small - SFH < dates
- IUGR or SGA
- low BMI
- dates incorrect
Folic acid in pregnancy
Oral, >1month before conception until week 12, to protect against neural tube defects
400 micrograms OD - normal singleton
5mg OD
- multiple pregnancy
- sickle cell disease
- previous pregnancy with neural tube defect
- diabetes
- taking anti-epileptic medication
SGA vs IUGR
SGA = below 10th centile
IUGR = growth slowing or ceasing
- not all IUGR are SGA
Causes of IUGR
Symmetrical (body proportional), early onset
- idiopathic
- chromosomal
- maternal drugs/smoking/alcohol
- maternal nutritional deficiency
- TORCH infections - toxoplasmosis, other (syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19), rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes
Asymmetrical (brain sparing), later onset
- utero-placental deficiency
- pre-eclampsia/HTN
- renal/cardiac disease
- multiple gestation
Risk factors for SGA
- age >40
- smoker (10+)
- cocaine use
- daily vigorous exercise
- previous SGA or stillborn
- maternal or paternal SGA
- HTN, diabetes or vascular disease
- renal impairment
- antiphospholipid syndrome
- BMI <20
- pregnancy interval <6 months or >30 months
Investigations for SGA/IUGR
- doppler USS
- detailed foetal anatomical survey and uterine artery doppler
- karyotyping if severe SGA + structural abnormalities
- serological screening for congenital CMV and toxoplasmosis
- testing for syphilis and malaria if high-risk
Two weekly scanning! Don’t deliver early unless restricted blood flow - do everything possible to keep to term.
Perineal tears
5-10% of first births
1st degree - only skin
2nd degree + perineal muscles (most common)
3rd degree + anal sphincter
4th degree + rectum
Stages of labour
Latent phase
- < 4cm dilated
- cervix effacing and thinning
- irregular tightenings
First stage
- 4-10cm dilated
- cervix effaced
- contractions regular and painful
- 8 or 5 hours
Second stage
- fully dilated, feel need to push
- active pushing -> baby born
- <3 or 1 hours
Third stage
- delivery of placenta and membranes (check for completeness)
- use IV syntometrine a few mins after birth, controlled cord traction
APGAR scoring
Done at 1, 5 and 10 mins
Score /10, each category /2
Heart rate Respiratory effort Muscle tone Response Central colour
Prescribing in pregnancy
- beware risk women stopping regular meds as fear risk
- but usually need extra dose - as increased plasma volume, higher metabolism, increased renal clearance
- may need extra monitoring of mum and baby
- NO drug is completely safe in pregnancy, but well mum = well baby
- MDT prescribing if complex
Drugs to NEVER prescribe in pregnancy
Methotrexate
Radioactive iodine
Lithium
Roaccutane
Types of vaginal bleeding in pregnancy
Spotting
Minor haemorrhage<50ml
Major haemorrhage 50-1000ml, no signs of clinical shock
Massive haemorrhage >1000ml, signs of clinical shock
Early pregnancy <20 weeks
- ectopic, miscarriage
Late pregnancy = antepartum haemorrhage
- placenta praevia, placental abruption
Post-partum haemorrhage (>500ml)
+ vaginitis, trauma, mucus show, uterine rupture, fibroid degeneration or torsion at any stage
Miscarriage types and causes
1/5 pregnancies, defined as <24 weeks.
Threatened miscarriage = vaginal bleeding in early pregnancy (50% continue pregnancy). Mild PV bleeding and closed os.
Inevitable miscarriage = PV bleeding more severe and os open
Missed miscarriage = gestational sac with or without fetus, but no FH. Os remains closed (fetus retained)
Incomplete miscarriage = most products already passed
Recurrent miscarriage = 3 or more consecutive miscarriages, with or without known cause
Causes
- mostly genetic abnormalities
- maternal diabetes/thyroid disease
- phospholipid/SLE
- uterine abnormalities
- cervical incompetence
Miscarriage investigations
- history - LMP, pain, bleeding
- A-E exam - ensure not haemodynamically shocked
- abdo exam
- speculum - cervical state, tissue in os?, amount of bleeding
- USS - abdo will show viable foetus from 6.5 weeks, transvaginal from 5.5 weeks
- serum hCG (doubling/halving time 2 days) - will stay positive a few days after losing foetus
- if significant bleeding - blood and rhesus group, FBC, G+S, admission
- psychological support
Miscarriage management
Expectant
- if stable, apyrexic, uncomplicated
Medical
- if missed/incomplete
- give oral or vaginal misoprostol
Surgical
- if missed/incomplete and choice, or if failed medical/conservative management
- evacuation of uterus with or without GA, products sent for histology
Placenta praevia
- should always be found on USS, but may present with painless fresh bleeding
- minor-major - 2cm away/completely covering os
- avoid PV exams and sex
- C section at 36-8 weeks (unless minor and head below placenta)
Risk factors
- previous termination
- previous surgery - caesarean, myomectomy
+ older age, previous praevia, multiparity, multiple pregnancy, smoking
Placental abruption
- presents as pain, maybe to shoulder tip, tense woody uterus maybe expanding in size, maybe loss of FMs
- concealed if no bleed, revealed if apparent haemorrhage
- needs immediate delivery by C section unless mum and baby both well and ?partial abruption - admit and monitor
Usually from trauma, increased risk in smoking, cocaine, HTN, previous abruption, FGR, malpresentation, polyhydramnios, multiparity, increased age, low BMI
Placenta accreta
- abnormally invasive adherent placenta will likely cause heavy bleeding during delivery
- risk after myometrial damage (surgeries/ablations)
- recommend caesarean hysterectomy at 34-36 weeks
Post-partum haemorrhage
> 500ml
Primary <24 hours, Secondary 24hrs-12 weeks
PPPH:
TONE - 70%, need uterotonics eg syntometrine
TRAUMA - of any organ
TISSUE - retained placenta/membranes, need EUA
THROMBIN - maternal bleeding disorder
Risk factors:
- previous PPH, abruption, anaemia, episiotomy, physiological 3rd stage, multip, emergency delivery, instrumental, APH, IOL, high BMI, long labour, HTN, older age
Hypertension in pregnancy
HTN = systolic ≥140 ± diastolic ≥90 Severe = systolic ≥160 ± diastolic ≥110
Chronic HTN if before 20 weeks
Gestational HTN if presenting after 20 weeks without proteinuria
Pre-eclampsia if after 20 weeks with proteinuria
Eclampsia if convulsions
More likely if diabetic, CKD, autoimmune disease, primip, older age, high BMI, long pregnancy interval, multiple pregnancy, past hx
Treatment - low dose 75mg aspirin from 12 weeks-delivery. Monitor for headache, RUQ pain, vision change, foetal movements, oedema. Regular urinalysis for protein.
Pre-eclampsia
= >30g/dL protein in urine, new bp ≥140s or ≥90d after 20 weeks
- when inadequate invasion to spiral arteries of placenta, increased resistance, less blood flow - affects mum and baby!
- if suspected needs admission - regular bp checks, 24hr urine collection
Complications:
- brain - haemorrhage, eclampsia, anoxia -> cardiac arrest
- lungs - PE, pulmonary oedema, aspiration pneumonia following fit
- liver - HELLP (haemolysis elevated liver low platelets), capsular rupture, necrosis/failure
- blood - PPH, DIC
- kidneys - renal failure, hyperkalaemia
- foetus - IUGR, abruption, death
Management of pre-eclampsia
1st - labetalol (unless asthma)
2nd - nifedipine
Alternative - methyldopa
Baby is unlikely to go to term - give steroids / MgSO4
- balancing risk of prematuity vs pre-eclampsia
VTE risk - give TEDs and LMWH
If emergency (increased bp, severe headache, flashing lights, oedema, hyperreflexia - central haemorrhage probable) stabilise mum before considering delivery , using labetalol, hydralazine, nifedipine, MgSO4 infusion, then LSCS when stable. Keep in hospital until 5 days postpartum.
Take aspirin in future pregancies!
Malpresentation
At term, 3-4% (commoner earlier)
- transverse lie
- oblique lie
- breech - front, complete, footing
- compound presentation
Causes:
- fetal abnormality
- liquor volume
- low lying placenta
- uterine abnormality (bicornucate)
Management
- ECV from 36/40 primip (40% success), 37/40 multip (60% success) - only after detailed USS and CTG
- if unstable lie, ECV then immediate ARM
- tocolysis uterine relaxant before
- need anti-D if Rh-ve
- NO ECV if in labour, uterine abnormality, fetal compromise, ruptured membranes, multiple pregnancy, vaginal bleeding
- Caesarean always recommended, at 39 weeks
- Vaginal delivery possible, likely episiotomy, late pushing. IV access, G+S, no epidural advised, no syntocinon, neonatologist present at delivery
Preterm birth
- low birth weight <2.5kg, very low <1.5kg. ICU offered from 23-24 weeks, warn of extreme disability risk.
- more likely SENs, mortality risk throughout childhood
- increased vulnerability - functionally/structurally immature organ systems, poorer immune system, hypoxia/ischaemia/inflammation
Immediate problems
- temperature control - humidified incubator
- infection/inflammation - low IgG, poor skin/mucosal barrier, lack of adaptive immune response, invasive treatments
- respiration - RDS - give oxygen maybe with pressure support, maybe surfactant down ETT
- CVS
- fluid balance and electrolytes - daily weights
- nutrition - TPN through central line until established feeds - breast milk!!
- GI tract - can’t suck swallow and breathe until 34-35 weeks, use NG, slow introduction of feeds
- retinopathy - avoid sats >95%
Multiple pregnancies diagnosis and added risks
Seen on 12 week USS
- DCDA most common - non-identical related to IVF
- MC identical, risk TTTS as shared placenta, MCMA deliver at 32 weeks
Risks:
- anaemia - take FBC at 20, 28 and 34 weeks, treat with ferrous sulfate 200mg BD if Hb<11.5
- congenital malformation - 5mg folic acid and screening
- preterm labour (most)
- HTN and pre-eclampsia - aspirin given if any other risk factors, BP and urinalysis at every visit
- FGR
- TTTS - treat with labour ablation of connecting vessels in utero (specialist) or one or both babies will die (one donor malnourished, one recipient engorged risking HF)
- stillborn (most likely with MC)
Monitoring and delivery of multiple pregnancies
Twins annotated on first scan and track growth individually
DCDA - growth scans every 4 weeks from 24 weeks, elective delivery at 37-38 weeks
MCDA - growth scans every 2 weeks from 16 weeks, elective delivery at 36-27 weeks
Vaginal birth if uncomplicated and twin 1 is cephalic - but warn increased risk of morbidity for 2nd twin on delivery, and risk of C section for 2nd
LSCS if not cephalic
VTE risk in pregnancy
VTE risk x6 in pregnancy, x10 by caesarean
- more factors VII, VIII, X
- more fibrinogen
- venous stasis in lower limbs
- reduced protein S activity
- reduced endogenous anticoagulant factors
- suppressed fibrinolysis
+ added risk if smoker, older age, medical (diabetes/SLE/cancer), immobility (PROM, travel), pre-eclampsia, dehydration, long labour, IVDU, surgery, PPH, thrombophilia, previous VTE, FHx
- never do D dimer in pregnancy as will be elevated anyway with coag changes!
- treat with LMWH BD, dose based on booking weight (beware half life increases as pregnancy progresses)
Anaemia in pregnancy
Hb <105g/L
- steep physiological fall at 20 weeks
- monitored at booking and at 28 weeks (+ in black patients test sickle-cell)
- iron deficiency = low MCV, folate deficiency = raised MCV
- more likely if previous anaemia, poor diet, or if frequent/multiple pregnancy
- predisposes to PPH, infection, worsening HF
- treat with ferrous sulfate 200mg BD PO alternate days or twice weekly
Diabetes care in pregnancy
Preconception - avoid unplanned pregnancy, need to optimise insulin control, give 5mg folic acid, dietician review, stop oral hypoglycaemics statins and ACEi, retinopathy and nephropathy screen.
Antenatal - regular home monitored glucose, regular review of insulin (needs increase by 50-100%), assess renal function, low threshold to admission if poor control, foetal echo with 20 week scan and additional growth scans every 4 weeks from 28 weeks. Can use metformin!
Delivery - recommend elective at 38 weeks (40 if GDM), use continuous foetal monitoring, avoid hyperglycaemia and may use sliding scale insulin
Postnatal - breastfeeding encouraged (most drugs compatible), pre-pregnancy counselling before next pregnancy
Complications of diabetes in pregnancy
Maternal - hypo unawareness (esp 1st T), increased risk pre-eclampsia, higher rates LSCS
Foetal - miscarriage, risk malformation rates, macrosomia (shoulder dystocia) or IUGR, polyhydramnios, preterm labour, still birth
- all reduced by good glycaemic control!
Gestational diabetes
- screen if first degree relative, previous large baby or GDM, BMI >30
- closely monitor glucose and foetal growth
- if levels not controlled by diet and exercise in 1-2 weeks then metformin/glibenclamide or insulin
- 50% will develop T2DM, so give lifelong dietary advice and follow-up
Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy
UTI
- pregnancy aggravated
- treat aggressively, as sepsis/miscarriage risk
Asymptomatic found in 7% pregnancies, more in diabetes or renal transplant
- high risk pyelonephritis
Screen all women at booking with MSU!
Treat - cefalexin (trimethoprim never in 1st trimester, nitrofurantoin not in 3rd)
Pyelonephritis
- more common as dilatation of upper renal tract in pregnancy
- presents as malaise with urinary frequency OR with temperatures, tachycardia, vomiting, loin pain
- culture blood and urine, then IV abx (cefuroxime) then oral
- if repeated infections, may give low dose amoxicillin
Asthma in pregnancy
Usually remains unchanged/improved by pregnancy (endogenous steroids) but may worsen
- severe/poorly controlled asthma -> IUGR and preterm labour
- medications safe in pregnancy but NOT leukotriene receptor antagonists
Thyroid disease in pregnancy
Normal pregnancy mimics hyperthyroid - raised HR, warm moist skin, slight goitre, anxiety (TSH similar to hCG)
- fertility is reduced by hyperthyroidism (+ miscarriage risk and malformations) - use carbimazole, monitor monthly
- fertility is reduced by hypothyroidism (+ miscarriage risk, anaemia, IUGR) - use levothyroxine and monitor each trimester. Be aware associated postpartum depression.
Infectious disease in pregnancy
Always beware rash - ?rubella, measles or parvovirus B19 - all risk foetal loss or damage
CMV - mild maternal infection but significant effects on foetus - IUGR, microcephaly, hepatosplenomegaly, thrombocytopaenia, jaundice, chorioretinitis
- toddler urine is significant source - limit contact for pregnant mum
HBV - all mothers screened, vaccinate babies of carriers/infected mothers at birth, and serology at 1 year old
Rhesus status
- if Rh-ve mother deliver Rh+ve baby, leak of foetal red cells causes mum to produced anti-D IgG antibodies (isoimmunisation)
- in subsequent pregnancies these can cross the placenta and cause rhesus haemolytic disease
In all Rh-ve mothers, test for D antibodies at 12, 28 and 34 weeks gestation (Kleihauer test)
- if found, give anti-D immunoglobulin
- give anti-D postnatally to all Rh-ve women where baby status is uncertain (incl in miscarriage/abortion after 12 weeks)
Structural abnormalities
- nuchal translucency at 11-14 weeks
- anomaly scan at 18-22 weeks
Lethal abnormalities - anencephaly, bilateral renal agenesis, major cardiac abnormalities, trisomy 13 and 18 - offer second opinion always in FMU.
AFP - alpha-fetoprotein associated with foetal malformations or adverse outcomes
Delay in labour
Due to power (poor uterine contractions, exhaustion), passage (inadequate pelvis), passenger (malposition, malpresentation, large foetus)
In first stage (<0.5cm dilation/hr):
- ensure adequate analgesia and hydration, change maternal position
- ARM and reassess in 2hrs, or if ruptured then oxytocin infusion and reassess in 4hrs (NOT if multip)
In second stage (>2 hours pushing primip, 1 hr multip):
- consider instrumental delivery or LSCS
Maternal collapse assessment and management
Maternal collapse call via 2222
A-E as normal
- displace uterus to relieve pressure from aorta and vena cava and improve venous return to heart
- keep supine, apply left manual uterine displacement
- if no return of circulation after 5 mins CPR in >20 week foetus then LSCS (for mother not baby)
Causes of maternal collapse
Head
- eclampsia, haemorrhage, epilepsy, trauma, vasovagal
Heart
- MI, arrythmia, peripartum cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, aortic dissection
Hypoxia
- PE, asthma, pulmonary oedema, anaphylaxis
Haemorrhage
- abruption, uterine atony, genital tract trauma, uterine rupture, uterine inversion, ruptured AA
wHole body and Hazards
- hypoglycaemia, amniotic fluid embolism, septicaemia, trauma, complications of anaesthesia