Pregnancy: Physiologic Changes and Pathophysiology Flashcards
What is the average healthy weight gain during pregnancy?
25 - 35 lbs, or 12 kg
What causes increase in body weight during pregnancy?(3)
Increased size of uterus (4kg)
Increased blood volume and interstitial fluid (4kg)
Increased fat and protein deposit (4kg)
How much weight is gained in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimesters?
1st: 1-2 kg
2nd, 3rd: 5-6 kg
How much is VO2 increased during pregancy and what is the primary cause?
Note: VO2 is oxygen consumption.
~ 60%
Primarily: Needs of fetus, uterus, and placenta
Secondarily: Increased work of mom
What are anatomical physiological changes during pregancy? (4)
Thoracic cage circumference increases
Vertical measurement of chest decreases
Capillary engorgement of oropharynx, nasal mucosa, larynx
Dilation of large a/w to allow more ventilation
What can we expect with nasal instrumentation to a pregnant patient?
increased epistaxis
What are respiratory mechanics in pregnant women? (2)
More diaphragmatic excursion
Less thoracic cage movement
What are cardiovascular changes in a pregnant woman? (5)
increased blood volume
increased cardiac output
increased HR
increased stroke volume
right shift of oxyhemoglobin dissociation curve
How much is blood volume increased at full-term?
~1 liter
Note: BV increase mostly due to plasma.
Most CO output changes is due to stroke volume. True or false?
True
Note how CO increases 125% at birth.
What are the hemodynamic changes at full-term gestation relating to:
CO
SV
HR
Contractility
SVR
PVR
Cardiac Output +40%
Stroke Volume +30%
Heart Rate +15 (15-20 bpm)
Contractility negligible
SVR - 20%
PVR - 30%
What is the p50O2 in mmHg?
Fetal
Normal
Parturient (mom)
19
27
30
Note: P50 = 50% of Hb is saturated with oxygen.
What are uterine blood flow increases at full-term gestation?
Normal 50 ml/min to 600-700 ml/min
What are other hemodynamic changes at term gestation besides increased uterine blood flow?
Renal plasma flow increase
Skin blood flow increases 3-4 times
Blood pressure falls
- Systolic 6-8%
- Diastolic 20-25% early, normal at full-term
What are factors that impair uterine blood flow? (5)
- Decreased perfusion pressure
- Decreased uterine arterial pressure
- Increased uterine venous pressure
- Increased uterine vascular resistance
- Exogenous vasoconstrictors
What is important to know regarding uterine blood flow?
It is pressure dependent and not auto-regulated!
What factors decrease uterine arterial pressure? (3)
Supine position due to aortocaval compression
Hemorrhage, hypovolemia
Hypotension from drugs or sympathetic blockade
What factors cause increased uterine venous pressure, which in turn impairs uterine flow? (4)
Vena caval compressions
Uterine contractions
Drug-induced hypertonus (oxytocin, local anesthetics)
Skeletal muscle hypertonus (seizures, Valsava)
What factors cause increased uterine vascular resistance which in turn impair uterine blood flow?
Endogenous vasoconstrictors
- Catecholamines (stress)
- Vasopressin (in response to hypovolemia)
Exogenous vasoconstrictors
- Epi
- Phenyl > ephedrine
- Local anesthetics in high conc.
What is of greater concern, aortic or caval compression?
caval compression
What position results in complete caval compression?
How much does it decrease CO?
supine, begins at 13 weeks
25-40%
Note: lateral decubitus partially obstructs the vena cava, but collateral circulation can compensate.
Lateral decubitus causes little aortic compression. True or false?
True.
At what spinal levels does significant compression of the aorta occur?
L3-L5
What are the greatest changes in lung volumes at full-term?
Tidal volume increases 40%
FRC decreases 20%
What changes in respiratory physiology occur at full-term? (3)
Respiratory Rate +0-15%
Minute ventilation + 40%
Alveolar ventilation + 40%
What is PaCO2 in a non-pregnant vs. a pregnant woman?
Normal: 40mmHg
Pregnant (all trimesters): 30mmHg
How does HCO3 change in a non-pregnant vs. pregnant womam?
Normal HCO3: 24 mmHg
Pregnant (full-term): 20 mmHg
What happens to pH in a pregnant woman?
Slightly increases
What causes CNS depression in a pregnant woman?
progesterone
Note: As a result, less local anesthetics are needed for spinals and epidurals.
Because the CNS is depressed, MAC and amount of local anesthetics needed is decreased as much as ___-____%
30 (LA)-40 (MAC)%
What are special considerations for spinals and epidurals in pregnant women? (2)
Engorged venous plexus can increase risk of puncturing epidural vein or intravascular injection
Decreased CSF volume causes enhanced cephalad spread of LA