Obstetrics Passmed 1 Flashcards
Give some of the key causes of abdominal pain during pregnancy
Early:
Ectopic pregnancy / Miscarriage
Late:
Labour
Placental abruption
Uterine rupture
Symphysis pubis dysfunction
Pre-eclampsia/HELLP syndrome
Any time:
Appendicitis
UTI
Risk factors for ectopic pregnancy?
damage to tubes (salpingitis, surgery)
previous ectopic
IVF (3% of pregnancies are ectopic)
How can an ectopic pregnancy present?
female with a history of 6-8 weeks amenorrhoea who presents with lower abdominal pain and later develops vaginal bleeding
lower abdominal pain: usually constant and may be unilateral, due to tubal spasm
vaginal bleeding: usually less than a normal period, may be dark brown in colour
peritoneal bleeding can cause shoulder tip pain and pain on defecation / urination
How does a threatened miscarriage present?
painless vaginal bleeding occurring before 24 weeks
typically occurs at 6 - 9 weeks
cervical os is closed
How does a missed (delayed) miscarriage present?
a gestational sac which contains a dead fetus before 20 weeks without the symptoms of expulsion
mother may have light vaginal bleeding / discharge and the symptoms of pregnancy which disappear
when the gestational sac is > 25 mm and no embryonic/fetal part can be seen = ‘blighted ovum’ or ‘anembryonic pregnancy’
How does an inevitable miscarriage present?
cervical os is open
heavy bleeding with clots and pain
can be complete or incomplete
What happens in an incomplete miscarriage?
not all products of conception have been expelled
heavy bleeding and crampy, lower abdo pain
(in complete miscarriage there is less bleeding)
What is placental abruption? Key clinical features?
Placental abruption is separation of a normally sited placenta from the uterine wall, resulting in maternal haemorrhage into the intervening space
Clinical features:
shock out of keeping with visible blood loss
constant pain
tender, tense uterus
normal lie and presentation
fetal heart: absent/distressed
coagulation problems
What is symphysis pubis dysfunction?
Ligament laxity increases in response to hormonal changes of pregnancy
Causes pain over the pubic symphysis with radiation to the groin and the medial aspects of the thighs
A waddling gait may be seen
Describe the abdominal pain seen in pre-eclampsia
epigastric / RUQ pain
associated with hypertension / proteinuria
How does uterine rupture present?
Ruptures usually occur during labour but occur in third trimester
Risk factors: previous caesarean section
Presents with maternal shock, abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding to varying degree
Give some risk factors for uterine rupture
Previous caesarean section – this is the greatest risk factor for uterine rupture
Classical (vertical) incisions carry the highest risk
Previous uterine surgery – such as myomectomy
Induction – (particularly with prostaglandins) or augmentation of labour
Obstruction of labour – this is an important risk factor to consider in developing countries
Multiple pregnancy
Multiparity
Describe the location of the abdominal pain seen in appendicitis during pregnancy
Location changes depending on gestation
RLQ in the first trimester
umbilicus in the second
RUQ in the third
Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a protein produced by the developing fetus.
Give some causes of a raised AFP
Neural tube defects (meningocele, myelomeningocele and anencephaly)
Abdominal wall defects (omphalocele and gastroschisis)
Multiple pregnancy
Give some causes of a low AFP
Down’s syndrome
Trisomy 18
Maternal diabetes mellitus
Amniotic fluid emboli occur when fetal cells/ amniotic fluid enter the mothers bloodstream. The majority of cases occur during labour.
What are the symptoms and signs?
Symptoms include: chills, shivering, sweating, anxiety and coughing
Signs include: cyanosis, hypotension, tachycardia, bronchospasm, arrhythmia and MI
Key points of mx for antenatal N+V?
natural remedies - ginger and acupuncture on the ‘p6’ point (by the wrist)
antihistamines should be used first-line (promethazine)
Risk factors for amniotic fluid embolism?
increasing maternal age
induction of labour
C section
multiple pregnancy
How does placenta praevia present?
shock in proportion to visible loss
no pain , uterus not tender
lie and presentation may be abnormal
fetal heart usually normal
coagulation problems rare , small bleeds before large
Why should vaginal examinations not be performed in primary care for suspected antepartum haemorrhage?
women with placenta praevia may haemorrhage
Define antepartum haemorrhage
bleeding after 24 weeks
How should antepartum haemorrhage be investigated?
FBC
Clotting profile, Group and Save & Cross-match
Kleihauer test if the woman is Rhesus negative (to determine the amount of feto-maternal haemorrhage and thus the dose of Anti-D required)
U&Es and LFTs
to exclude pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome, and any other organ dysfunction
Assess Fetal Wellbeing using CTG in women above 26 weeks gestation
Give some maternal complications of APH
anaemia
coagulopathy
maternal shock
infection
renal tubular necrosis
prolonged hospital stay
psychological sequelae
Give some fetal complications of APH
hypoxia
SGA and growth restriction
prematurity
fetal death
Causes of vaginal bleeding in the 1st trimester?
Spontaneous abortion
Ectopic pregnancy
Hydatidiform mole
Causes of vaginal bleeding in the 2nd trimester?
Spontaneous abortion
Hydatidiform mole
Placental abruption
Causes of vaginal bleeding in the 3rd trimester?
Bloody show
Placental abruption
Placenta praevia
Vasa praevia
How does Hydatidiform mole present?
Typically bleeding in first or early second trimester associated with exaggerated symptoms of pregnancy e.g. hyperemesis
Uterus may be large for dates and serum hCG is very high
How does Vasa praevia present?
Rupture of membranes followed immediately by vaginal bleeding. Fetal bradycardia is classically seen
Mx of nipple candidiasis?
miconazole cream for the mother and nystatin suspension for the baby
Mx of mastitis?
treat ‘if systemically unwell, if nipple fissure present, if symptoms do not improve after 12-24 hours of effective milk removal of if culture indicates infection’
Oral fluclox 10-14 days, continue breastfeeding
How does Raynaud’s disease of the nipple present? Mx?
intermittent pain present during and immediately after feeding
blanching of the nipple followed by cyanosis and/or erythema
Mx: minimising exposure to cold, use of heat packs following a breastfeed, avoiding caffeine and stopping smoking
Which abx should be avoided in breastfeeding?
ciprofloxacin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, sulphonamides
Which psychiatric drugs should be avoided in breastfeeding mothers?
lithium, benzodiazepines
What techniques can be used to suppress lactation?
stop the lactation reflex i.e. stop suckling/expressing
supportive measures: well-supported bra and analgesia
cabergoline
What is the difference between a frank and footling breech presentation?
A frank breech is the most common presentation = hips flexed and knees fully extended
A footling breech = one or both feet come first with the bottom at a higher position, rarer but carries a higher perinatal morbidity
What are the main risk factors for breech presentation?
uterine malformations, fibroids
placenta praevia
polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios
fetal abnormality
prematurity
How should breech presentations be managed?
if < 36 weeks: many fetuses will turn spontaneously
> 36 weeks (or 37 weeks if multiparous) :external cephalic version (ECV)
if the baby is still breech then delivery options include planned caesarean section or vaginal delivery