antepartum haemorrhage - GM Flashcards
define APH
genital tract bleeding from 24 weeks gestation and complicates 3-5% of pregnancies
three most important causes of APH
placenta praevia, placental abruption and vasa preavia
less serious causes of APH
lower genital tract sources eg. cervical polyps, vaginitis and cervicitis
why does placenta previa increase the likelihood of APH
poor attachment of the placenta to the uterine wall
minor placenta praevia
grade 1 and 2
the placenta is low but does not cover the internal cervical os
major placenta praevia
grade 3 and 4
placenta loes over the internal cervical os
placental abruption define
complete or partial detachment of the placenta before delivery
complete and partial placental abruption
complete accounts for 7% whilst partial accounts for 93%
aetiology of placental abruption
may occur due to trauma or injury to the abdomen
risk factors for placental abruption
maternal age greater than 35
multiparity
current pre-eclampsia, HELLP
Hx of hypertension
Hx of previous abruptions
Hx of anti-phospholipid syndrome
Hx of thrombophilia
smoking during pregnancy
use of cocaine during pregnancy
tramua
History of placental abruption
abdo pain - posterior placental abruptions may present with back pain
vaginal bleeding
uterine contractions
dizziness and/or loss of consciousness
revealed vs. concealed placental abruption
amount of blood loss often correlates poorly with the degree of abruption
abruption may be revealed where blood tracks between membranes and out of the vagina
may however be concealed where the blood accumulates with no obvious external bleeding
clinical findings of placental abruption include
woody, tense uterus
fetal heart absent or distressed
imaging for placental abruption
US required to identify location of the bleed
lab investigations of placental abruption
FBC, U&Es, LFTs, helps exclude hypertensive conditions such as HELLP or pre-eclampsia
clotting profile
kleihauer test
group and save
crossmatch
differential diagnoses for placental abruption
placenta praevia
vasa praevia
marginal placental bleed: partial abruption
uterine rupture
local causes: polyps, carcinoma, cervical ectropion, infection