Pre-eclampsia Flashcards
1
Q
What is chronic hypertension?
A
- Hypertension either known prior to pregnancy, or picked up before 20 weeks gestation.
- In early pregnancy, systemic vascular resistance falls, and cardiac
output does not catch up with this until ~22 weeks.
• This means that BP is usually lower in the first and most of the second trimester.
• Therefore hypertension detected before 20 weeks gestation is not related to the pregnancy.
2
Q
What is gestational hypertension?
A
- Pregnancy induced hypertension = new onset of hypertension after 20 weeks gestation
- New onset BP > 140/90 in the absence of features of pre-eclampsia.
3
Q
What is the diagnostic criteria for pre-eclampsia?
A
- Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder which can occur in pregnancy.
- Multi-system condition.
• Can affect kidneys, liver, brain, eyes, and other organs.
• Associated with complications for mother and fetus. - Affects between 1-5% of pregnant women.
- It usually develops between 20 weeks’ gestation, and 6 weeks post- partum
-
Diagnostic criteria:
• Blood pressure >140/90
AND
• Significant proteinuria
4
Q
What are the risk factors for pre-eclampsia?
A
5
Q
What is the pathophysiology for pre-eclampsia?
A
abnormal development of placental vessels (spiral arteries). They should dilate up to 5- 10x their normal size to increase blood flow to the foetus. In pre-eclampsia they are narrowed → less blood flow through placenta
6
Q
What are the maternal and feral effects of pre-eclampsia?
A
7
Q
What are the symptoms and complications of pre-eclampsia?
A
8
Q
What are the investigations for pre-eclampsia?
A
9
Q
What is the management of eclampsia and pre-eclampsia?
A
Management Of eclampsia:
- Obstetric emergency call.
- IV Magnesium sulphate for prevention and treatment.
- IV antihypertensives (labetalol or hydralazine).
- Continuous monitoring of mother and baby.
- Prompt delivery of fetus (emergency C-Section) once mother stable.
