Obs Flashcards
(113 cards)
List features of the foetal heart rate that are used to define and interpret CTG traces
- Baseline (normal= 110-160 beats/min abnormal <100 or >180)
- Baseline variability (normal= 5-25beats/min, abnormal <5 or >25 for >50mins)
- Decelerations (late decels, brady and prolonged)
Each feature can be described as reassuring, non-reassuring or abnormal
How can a CTG trace be categorised?
- Normal (if all features reassuring)
- Suspicious (if one feature non reassuring)
- Pathological (one abnormal feature or two non reassuring features)
- Need for urgent intervention (acute bradycardia or prolonged deceleration)
Give the normal, borderline and abnormal values for pH and lactate in a foetal blood sample
pH:
Normal >7.25
Borderline 7.2-7.25
Abnormal <7.2
Lactate
Normal <4.1
Borderline 4.2-4.8
Abnormal >4.9
Describe the categories of caesarean section
Cat 1: Immediate threat to life of woman or foetus, time from decision to delivery should be <30mins
Cat 2: Maternal or foetal compromise which is not immediately life threatening, time from decision to delivery should be <75mins
Cat 3: No maternal or foetal compromise but requires early delivery
Cat 4: Delivery timed to suit women or staff
List indications for elective caesarean section
- Maternal request
- Malrpresentation, failed ECV
- Multiple pregnancy and first twin not cephalic
- Placenta praevia
- Placenta accreta
- Previous C-S
- Previous traumatic delivery
- Transmissible diseases e.g. HIV, genital HSV
- Cephalopelvic disproportion
- Maternal conditions e.g. diabetes, cardiovascular disease
Methods of monitoring for foetal wellbeing
CTG
Foetal scalp monitoring
Foetal pulse oximetry
Foetal blood sampling
Foetal ECG
Transabdominal ultrasound
Which sensory modalities can be assessed to check the adequacy of neuraxial block prior to c-section, and which height of block should be achieved for each?
- Light touch to T5 bilaterally
- Temperature e.g. cold to T4 bilaterally
What degree of motor block is consistent with adequate neuraxial block for c-section?
Inability to straight leg raise against gravity bilaterally
Give reliable signs that indicate sympathetic block associated with neuraxial anaesthesia
Warm and dry feet bilaterally
State three ways that initially inadequate spinal block can be improved to allow caesarean section to proceed
- Positioning - flex hips to flatten lumbar lordosis, cautious head down tilt, lateral tilt if block is not equal to both sides
- Epidural/ top-up
- Repeat spinal with reduced dose (if some block present), patient positioning to reduce risk of high spinal
What are the risk factors for failure of neuraxial anaesthesia
Surgical
* Greater operative urgency
* Longer surgery
Patient
* High BMI
* First c-section
Anaesthetic
* No intrathecal opioid used
What are the risk factors for post-operative pain when epidural is used for C-section
- High top-up volume required to achieve adequate block
- Adrenaline not used
- Higher number of clinican administered boluses during labour
Aside from improving block and providing a GA, what can you do for management of pain during C-section?
- Nitrous oxide
- Fast acting opioids e.g. alfentanil 250-500mcg boluses
- Ketamine 10mg boluses
Define late intrauterine fetal death
Fetal death in utero after 24 completed weeks of pregnancy
List pre-existing maternal conditions that are associated with inreased risk of IU-fetal death
- Diabetes
- SLE
- Advanced maternal age
- Obesity
- Maternal drug use
- Maternal thrombophilias
- RhD -ve
List obstetric causes of IU-fetal death
- Pre-eclampsia
- PROM
- Placental abruption
- Cord prolapse
- Ascending infection
- Uterine rupture
- Obstetric cholestasis
State ways in which the approach to pain relief may differ between labour with IU-fetal death and live birth
- Maternal pain may be greater due to psychological distress
- Choice to use analgesia may be affected by holistic situation
- No concerns over placental transfer of analgesics - longer acting and higher opiate doses can be used if needed
- Opiates with fewer side effects e.g. morphine can be used instead of pethidine
- Causes of consequences of IUFD may induce coagulopathy, contraindicating neuraxial and intramuscular analgesia
Give abnormal haematological results which may contraindicate epidural analgesia, and why these might be seen in IU-fetal death
- Raised WCC - maternal sepsis contributing to IUFD, or as a consequence of IUFD
- Low platelets - severe pre-eclampsia or HELLP
- Derranged coagulation - DIC from pre-eclampsia/HELLP/thrombophilia/abruption/uterine rupture or because of IUFD itself
Give the features of a post-dural puncture headache
- Fronto-occipital
- Develops within five days of puncture
- Worse on standing, improves on lying
- Neck stiffness
- Tinnitus
- Photophobia
- Sound intolerance
- Cranial nerve palsies e.g. II, III, IV, VI. VIII
Give risk factors for accidental dural puncture
- Extremes of BMI
- Increased depth to epidural space
- Operator inexperience
- Inability of patient to remain still (e.g. advanced labour)
What are the differential diagnoses of post-partum headache?
- Meningitis
- Sinusitis
- Migraine
- Cerebral vein thrombosis
- Dehydration
- Lactation headache
What conservative management do you advice for post dural puncture headache?
- Simple analgesia e.g. paracetamol, NSAIDs
- Good hydration
- Caffeine
- Encourage mobilisation, if unable give antiembolism stockings
- Avoid straining - laxatives
- Antiemetics if needed
What are the risks of epidural blood patch?
- Failure
- Bruising
- Temporary back pain/stiffness
- Further accidental dural puncture
- Nerve damage
- Infection
- Spinal canal haematoma
What are the causes of mitral stenosis?
- Infective endocarditis
- Degenerative calcification
- Rheumatic fever