Questions Flashcards
Cervical ripening?
It is softening of the cervix
Cervical effacement?
It is shortening of the cervix
Types of uterine contractions during pregnancy
- Individual contraction of myometrial cells
- Braxton-Hicks’s contraction
- Contractions of labour
- Postpartum uterine contractions
Mechanism of labour
It refers to a series of changes in the position of the fetus during its passage through the birth canal.
Fetal lie:Longitudinal lie?
Longitudinal lie: the long axis of the fetus is in the same direction as the mother’s. Either the head or breech presenting
Fetal lie: Transverse?
The long axis of the fetus is transverse or slightly diagonal to that of the maternal abdomen. The shoulder is usually the presenting part.
Fetal lie: Transverse?
The long axis of the fetus is transverse or slightly diagonal to that of the maternal abdomen. The shoulder is usually the presenting part.
Fetal lie: Oblique?
The longitudinal axis of the fetus reaches from one of the iliac fossae to the opposing hypochondrium.
How would you monitor the foetus of a high-risk mother in labour?
° Continuous monitoring eg. CTG cardiotocograph
° Bottom probe picks up heart rate (top trace)
° Top probe picks up contractions (bottom trace)
° Every time a woman feel foetal movement, presses a button
What are some examples of high-risk situations in which you might use CTG cartiotocography?
° Any pregnancy which is not low risk eg.
° Oxytocin infusion
° Meconium stained liquor
° Multiple pregnancy
° Intra-uterine growth restriction (IUGR)
° Abnormality on intermittent auscultation
What is the baseline foetal heart rate?
110-160 bpm
What is the baseline foetal heart rate?
110-160 bpm
What is an acceleration - is that a good or a bad thing?
°×Rise of >15bpm for 15 seconds
° good - indicates movement
What are the benefits of CTG?
° reduced rate of neonatal seizures
° increases intervention rat
What should you do if you are worried about a CTG?
° Change maternal position (to left lateral)
° Give fluids - ?dehydrated (less perfusion to baby)
° Fetal scalp stimulation
° Foetal blood sample (if concerned and delivery is not imminent)
° Deliver
cardiotocograph
It involves the placement oftwotransducersonto the abdomen of a pregnant woman. One transducer records thefetalheartrate using ultrasound and the other transducer monitors thecontractionsof theuterusby measuring thetensionof the maternalabdominalwall(providing an indirect indication ofintrauterinepressure).
How to read a CTG? remembered using the acronym DR C BRAVADO:
° DR:Define risk
° C:Contractions
° BRa:Baseline rate
° V:Variability
° A:Accelerations
° D:Decelerations
° O:Overall impression
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What is the definition of postpartum haemorrhage with regard to normal vaginal delivery?
Bleeding from the genital tract of more than 500 mL after delivery of the infant.
What is the difference between primary and secondary postpartum haemorrhage?
° Primary: Bleeding more than 500 mL within 24 hours of delivery
° Secondary: Bleeding more than 500 mL that starts 24 hours after delivery and occurs within 12 weeks
What are the causes of primary postpartum haemorrhage?
° Uterine atony
° Genital tract trauma
° Retained placenta / placenta accreta
° Coagulation disorders
Uterine inversion
Uterine rupture
What are the risk factors for uterine atony and therefore postpartum haemorrhage?
° Multiple pregnancy
° Grand multiparity or nulliparity
° Fetal macrosomia
° Polyhydramnios
° Fibroid uterus
° Prolonged labour
° Previous PPH
° Antepartum haemorrhage
Why does multiple pregnancy increased the risk of PPH?
Placental site is larger than with a singleton. There is also over distension which increases risk of uterine atony.
What are the risk factors for genital tract trauma?
° Macrosomia
° Episiotomy
° Instrumental delivery, especially Keilland’s forceps
What is the average amount of blood loss with caesarian section?
500 mL, therefore PPH in this case is termed as anything above 1 L.
What are the symptoms of uterine inversion?
° Blood loss
° Abdominal pain
° Feeling of prolapse
What is the main risk factor for uterine rupture as a cause of PPH?
Previous caesarian section
What are the coagulation disorders than might cause PPH?
1.Chronic:
° Haemophilia
° Von Willebrands
- Acute:
°DIC
What are the complications of primary postpartum haemorrhage?
° Haemorrhagic shock and death
° Sheehan’s syndrome
How do we prevent primary PPH and the complications of it?
- After vaginal delivery:
° 10u of Oxytocin IMI after delivery
° Controlled cord traction
- At risk of PPH:
° Consider oxytocin infusion or ergometrine in addition to the above.
Immediate Management of PPH
Resuscitate: ° Rub up the uterus/ bimanual compression ° Call for assistance ° Insert 2 large IV cannula ° Infusion of Oxytocin 20u in 1L of Ringers lactate °Maintain BP with clear fluids/blood ° Urinary catheter ° Monitor BP/pulse/urine output
Management if there is incomplete delivery of Placenta?
Incomplete:
° Evacuation of the uterus
° Digital exploration
° Ovum forceps and large curette
Management in PPH if there is Undelivered Placenta?
° Oxytocin 10u in 30ml of Normal Saline into umbilical vein
° Repeat cord traction
° Manual removal
If the placenta is delivered what do you do?
Feel for Uterus
What do you do if Utrus is NOT FELT:
- Check vaginally for inverted uterus
- Replace immediately
3 Hydrostatic reduction:
° Saline infusion into vagina
° Hold vulvae around tube or use rubber vacuum cup in vagina for seal
The Uterus if felt and is SOFT?
° Massage uterus to expel clots
° Continue Oxytocin infusion
° Egromentrine 0.5mg or Syntometrine 1 amp IMI [ repeat once if needed]
° Misoprostol 400-600microGram per rectum or sublingually.
° PGF2 Alfa 5mg in 10ml Saline: inject 1ml into myometrium.
° Balloon tamponade.
In PPH the uterus is FIRM
FIRM:
° Suture lacerations of perineum, vagina or cervix
What do you do if the is still bleeding after management of SOFT and FIRM Uterus
If ongoing bleeding:
EMERGENCY REFERRAL
Balloon catheter can be inserted into the uterus to temporise the situation prior to transfer.
Principles of Management in Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia.
The cure for pre-eclampsia (and Eclampsia) is delivery of the fetus and Placenta. However a planned delivery in stable patient is safer than in a rushed delivery in an unstable patient.
Maternal complications of pre-eclampsia include:
° CVA
° Pulmonary oedema
° Renal failure
° HELLP (Hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) syndrome.
Fetal complications include:
° Intra-uterine growth restrictions
° Hypoxia
° Death
The aims of investigations and Mx of pre-eclampsia are to minimize the chances of these complications arising, identifying them early and treat appropriately when they do occur.
Recognizing severe pre-eclampsia
° BP >140/90mmHg ° Proteinuria 3+ or more ° Headache ° Blurred vision ° Epigastric/ Upper abdominal pain ° Hyper-reflexia, clonus ° Jittery ° Breathlessness (pulmonary oedema) ° Reduced urine output (less than 25ml/hour or less than 100ml/4 hours)
Risk factors for Pre-eclampsia
° History of preeclampsia in previous pregnancy or family history
° First pregnancy (primigravida)
° Significant health history prior to pregnancy:Diabetes, lupus,high blood pressure,kidney disease
° Obese (BMI >30)
° Having more than one baby (twin, triplets etc.)
° Age (young <18 or advanced >35)
What investigation woy
would you do for a patient with Severe Pre-eclampsia?
- Thrombocytopenia (platelets <100 000/uL)
- Renal function test: impaired (AST oraLT>40IU/L)
- HELLP syndrome: platelets < 100 000/uL, AST>70uL, LDH>600uL
- Serum creatinine >/= 120 micromol/L
Hypertensive Emergency, how would you manage Severe pre-eclampsia
- Nifedipine, oral, 10mg
If unable to take oral or inadequate response:
2. Labetalol, IV infusion, 2 mg/minute to a total of 1–2 mg/kg.
Reconstitute solution as follows:
° Discard 40mL of sodium chloride 0.9% from a 200 mL container.
° Add 2 vials (2 x 100 mg) of labetalol (5 mg/mL) to the remaining 160 mL of sodium chloride 0.9% to create a solution of 1 mg/mL.
° Start at 40mL/hour to a maximum of 160 mL/hour.
° Titrate against BP – aim for BP of 140/100 mmHg.
How would you Prevention Of Pre-Eclampsia
For women at high risk of pre-eclampsia, e.g. pre-eclampsia in a previous pregnancy, chronic hypertension, diabetes, antiphospholipid syndrome or SLE.
From 6 weeks’ gestation onwards, preferably before 16 weeks gestation:
- Aspirin, oral, 150 mg daily.
- Calcium, oral.
For high-risk patients: Calcium carbonate, oral, 500 mg 12 hourly (equivalent to 1 g elemental calcium daily).
Empiric treatment of UTI in a pregnant woman ( symptoms present with nitrites positive AND leukocytes positive on dipstick):
- Fosfomycin, oral, 3 g, as a single dose
OR - Nitrofurantoin, oral, 100 mg, 6 hourly for 5 days