Clinical Management of Pregnancy and Parturition

Question 1

List 15 signs and symptoms of preeclampsia.

Answer 1

Cardiovascular:

1 - Increased blood pressure.

2 - Headaches (due to above).

3 - Disseminated intravascular coagulation.

4 - Reduced platelets.

Kidneys:

1 - Reduced urine output.

2 - Proteinuria.

3 - Hyperuricemia.

4 - Oedema.

Liver:

1 - Raised liver enzymes.

2 - Liver capsule stretch.

3 - Epigastric pain (due to above)

Placenta:

1 - IUGR.

2 - Foetal death.

3 - Abruption.

Brain:

1 - Occipital lobe ischaemia.

2 - Convulsions.

Question 2

List 3 treatments for preeclampsia.

Answer 2

1 - Antihypertensives, e.g. labetalol, nifedipine etc.

2 - Fluid restriction.

3 - Magnesium sulphate (anticonvulsant).

Question 3

List 5 main causes of death during pregnancy,

Answer 3

1 - Bleeding.

2 - Hypertension.

3 - Infection.

4 - Unsafe abortions.

5 - Obstructed labour.

*These mainly apply to developing countries since that’s where most of the pregnancy-related deaths are.