Round up Lecture Flashcards
What are the risk factors for an ectopic pregnancy?
Smoking, IUD, IVF, increased maternal age, laproscopic sterilisation, previous ectopic, assisted pregnancy, previous tubal surgery.
Before carrying out an internal exam, what is crucial to know and can be found in the patients hand held notes?
The position of the placenta. If it is low-lying there is risk that an internal exam may exacerbate bleeding.
What is a common presentation for an ectopic pregnancy?
Unilateral IF pain
When should you perform a serial HCG blood test?
After ultrasound has confirmed a pregnancy of unknown location (PUL)
Which HCG levels suggest an ectopic pregnancy?
A rise of less than 66% every 48 hours suggests ectopic between 6-10 weeks.
What three things could a PUL be?
Ectopic, miscarriage or early uterine pregnancy
What are the 5 types of miscarriage and what do they mean?
A threatened miscarriage, inevitable miscarriage, incomplete, complete and missed (septic??)
What is a threatened miscarriage and what percentage will go on to miscarry?
PV bleeding before 24 weeks, normal size for dates and the os is closed. 25% will go on to miscarry.
What is an inevitable miscarriage?
Bleeding is usually heavier. Although the fetus may still be alive, the cervical os is open and miscarriage is about to occur.
What is an incomplete miscarriage?
Some fetal parts have been passed but the os is usually open.
What is a complete miscarriage?
All fetal tissue has been passed. Bleeding has diminished, the uterus is no longer enlarged and the cervical os is closed.
What is a septic miscarriage?
The contents of the uterus are infected, causing endometritis. Vaginal loss is offensive and the uterus is tender. A fever can be absent. If pelvic infection occurs there is abdominal pain and peritonism.
What is a missed miscarriage?
The fetus has not developed or died in utero, but this is not recognised until bleeding has occurred or noticed on USS. The uterus is smaller than expected from the dates and the os is closed.
What is the management of miscarriages?
Medical & Surgical, (can be both) & expectant
What can products of conception in the cervical os cause?
Pain, bleeding & vasovagal shock. They are removed using polyp forceps.
If bleeding occurs after 12 weeks gestation or the uterus is instrumented what should be given?
Anti-D should be given to women who are rhesus negative and experience this. This reduces the risk of iso-immuniazation leading to possible rhesus disease in future pregnancies.
What percentage of women will miscarry, who have feral heart activity at 8 weeks.
10%
What is expectant management or miscarriage?
This can be continued for as long as the woman is willing and there are no signs of infection.
What is the medical management of a miscarriage and what are the success rates?
Prostaglandin (Misoprostal PGE1 analog). It is taken oral, sublingual or vaginally. It is sometimes preceded by the anti progesterone mifepristone. It is successful in 80% of women with INCOMPLETE miscarriages and 40-90% od women with a MISSED miscarriage. sc
When is misoprostal indicated?
When the uterine size is less than or equal to 12 weeks LMP. It facilitates uterine evacuation.
When should misoprostal be used with surgery?
In nullparous women
What is the surgical management of a miscarriage and when is this suitable? What is the success rate and why is tissue examined histologically?
Evacuation of retained products of conception (ERPC) under anaesthetic using vacuum aspiration. It is suitable when the woman prefers it, there is heavy bleeding, or signs of infection.
Success rates are >95% for both incomplete and missed miscarriage.
Tissue is examined to exclude molar pregnancy
What condition can surgical management of miscarriage cause?
Ashermans syndrome
Do long-term conception rates differ between the management options?
No
When should further investigation regarding miscarriage be carried out?
Because they are so common (1 in 5 pregnancies) then investigation should be reserved for women who have had 3 miscarriages.
What are the three therapies for ectopic pregnancies?
Salpingectomy, salpingotomy & Methotrexate.
When is medical management for miscarriage not suitable?
If there is free fluid in the abdomen (i.e. following a rupture) then surgical management is required.
Who is eligible for medical management of ectopic?
If there is no bleeding, the product is less than 3cm and the HCG is less than 5000 with no feral heart beat.
If a womans had a previous ectopic, when should she be seen in the EPU?
6 weeks
What is an antepartum haemorrhage?
Bleeding from the genital tract after 24 weeks gestation?
What are the common causes of APH?
Undetermined origin, placental abruption or placenta praevia.