OB Exam #3 Flashcards
(104 cards)
What does the term prematurity mean?
- a birth before 259 days gestation?
- Defined as regular uterine contractions that occur before 37 weeks gestation and result in dilation and effacement of cervix
What are some common risk factors for prematurity?
- multifetal pregnancy
- preterm rupture of membranes
Define tocolysis:
- stopping labor
- Tocolysis allows corticosteroids for fetal pulmonary maturation and antibiotics to decrease maternal chrioamnionitis.
What pre-existing medical conditions contributes the most to obstetric morbidity/mortality during delivery?
- Pulmonary HTN(98:1000)
- Malignancy(23:1000)
- SLE(21:1000)
What are common causes of maternal death?
- Hemorrhage
- Embolism(amniotic fluid esp.)
- Preeclampsia
- Infection
- CHF
What is the leading cause of preinatal morbidity/mortality?
- Premature delivery
- 50% of all perinatal deaths
Premature labor definition:
- Regular uterine contractions that occur before 37 weeks gestation, or before 259 days from last menstrual cycle
- Contractions result in dilation or effacement of cervix
Common risk factors of premature labor.
- Multifetal pregnancies
- Preterm rupture of membranes
Late preterm birth definition:
- Those of 34-46 weeks gestation
- Compose 70% of all preterm births
Low birth weights defined:
- Fetal size categories
- Low birth weight: 500-2500g
- Very low birth weight: 500-1500g
- Extremely low birth weight: 500-1000g
T or F: Preterm labor diagnosis is facilitated by measuring fetal fibronectin and maternal cervical u/s.
True
What is Tocolysis?
- Stopping labor(especially premature)
- Often done for 48 hours
- Critical Goal: allows for corticosteroid administration, which reduces the risks of the neonatal respiratory distress syndrome, IVH, NEC and overall perinatal death
- Also, allows for latency antibiotic administration, promotes fetal maturation and decreases maternal chorioamniois.
- As a general rule, if tocolytics are given, they should be given concomitantly with cortiosteriods
T or F: Although preterm labor is not well understood, there are 4 pathways that are well supported causes of preterm labor:
- True
- Myometrial and fetal membrane overdistention
- Decidual hemorrhage
- Precocious fetal endocrine activation
- Intrauterine infection or inflammation
- Substance abuse
Fetal Endocrine Signals and preterm labor:
- Increased uterine contractility at term and preterm results from activation and then stimulation of the myometrium
- Activation can be provoked by: mechanical stretch of uterus and by the endocrine pathway resulting from increased activity of fetal hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis
- Cortisol provides a crucial link to uterine stimulation: increased fetal production of PGs, corticotropin-releasing hormone output, ect.
When does the initial benefit of corticosteroid therapy occur?
- 18 hours after administration of first dose
- Maximal benefit at about 48 hours
After what gestational age are tocolytics not used?
- At or after 33 weeks
- Bc corticosteroids aren’t used after 33 weeks
Does using tocolytics improve outcome for mom/baby?
- Growing evidence not to
- Bacterial colonization of fetal membranes and amniotic fluid triggers and inflammatory response in the mom/fetus, leading to preterm labor and long-term neurologic/respiratory complications in the neonate
- Prolong pregnancy in this state?
- ?improvement in neonatal outcome with tocolytic use
- Poor maternal/fetal side-effect profile
Agents used as tocolytics:
- Beta adrenergic receptor agonists
- Nitric oxide donors
- Magnesium sulfate
- Calcium channel blockers
- Prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors
- Oxytocin antagonists
- NSAIDS
- Labor inhibiting drugs are only marginally effective
What are the primary mechanisms of tocolytic agents?
- Through generation or alteration of intracellular messengers
- Blocking the action of a known myometrial stimulant
Tocolytic agent: Magnesium Sulfate
- Causes relaxation of vascular, bronchial and uterine smooth muscle
- Alters calcium transport and availability
- Motor end plate sensitivity and muscle membrane excitability are also depressed
- Hyperpolarizes the plasma membrane and inhibits myosin light-chain kinase activity by competing with intracellular calcium: reduces myometrial contractility
- Antagonizes the vasoconstrictive effect of alpha-agonists, so ephedrine and phenylephrine are likely to be less effective to increase maternal BP
- Eliminated unchanged by the kidneys
What is the normal serum MgSO4 level during pregnancy?
1.8 to 3 mg/dL
What serum magnesium level is therapeutic as a tocolytic?
4-8 mg/dL
even toxic levels do not eliminate uterine contractility
What does a serum mag level of 5 to 10 cause?
P-Q interval prolonged and QRS widening
What does a serum mag level of 10-12 cause?
the patellar reflex is eliminated