Obstetrics Flashcards
(154 cards)
Why is foetal monitoring important?
Identify a baby at risk of dying in utero
How might you monitor a foetus?
Pinard stethoscope
Hand held doppler - intermittent auscultation for low risk mothers
Cardiotocography for high risk mothers - continuous - measures FHR and uterine contractions
What might you see on abnormal CTG?
FHR variability
Accelerations/decelerations - early/variable/late
How can you get the true beat-to-beat FHR? When can you obtain it?
Fetal ECG
Only in labour (is invasive) when cervix is >2cm dilated
A fetal magneto cardiogram is a non invasive high resolution device that can accurately analyse the foetal heart. Problems with it?
Expensive and big
Shield environment
Skilled technician
Analgesia used in labour?
Simple - paracetamol/codeine
Opioids (IM/IV morphine, diamorphine, pethidine)
Entonox - half O2 and N2O
Epidural
Where an epidural be administered?
L3/4 space - Tuffier’s line at level of iliac crest
Epidural space - between dura and vertebral body
When to administer epidural? When not to (C/I)
Maternal request
maternal disease
Augmented labour - multiple births, induced, instrumental/operative labour likely
Not: maternal refusal, allergy, local infection
Why is epidural good?
Superior analgesia, maternal satisfaction
What sort of anaesthesia might you use for a caesarean section?
Spinal or general but prefer spinal
When might you administer GA for C section?
Imminent threat to mother/foetus
C/I to regional
Maternal preference
A 28 year old lady is 27 weeks pregnant (24+) presents with vaginal bleeding. What is this referred to as? What might cause it?
Antepartum haemorrhage - bleeding from genital tract after 24 weeks pregnancy, prior to delivery of fetus
Placental abruption, placenta praevi
Ectropion of cervix (trauma to cervical columnar cells causes bleeding)
A 30 year old is 32 weeks pregnant and has a 3 week hx of intermitant painless bleeds, which have become more frequent and heavier over time. Examination is normal apart from that the foetus lying transverse(/breech). Likely dx? Cause?
Placenta praevi - placenta implanted in lower segment of uterus - can be in lower segment (types I-II) or partially (III) or completely covering os (IV).
Aetiology unknown - twins, previous hx, C-section scar
Thought that in early pregnancy the upper part of uterus grows faster. Usually a praevi corrects itself - lower segment grows and placenta ‘moves upwards’
Complications of praevi?
Low lying placenta obstructs engagement of head
Placenta accrete - placenta implants into deeper endometrium/myometrium eg previous C section scar
Placenta percreta - placenta penetrates through uterine wall into surrounding abdominal structures eg bladder
Ix of suspected praevi?
NEVER DO VAGINAL EXAM - can provoke massive bleeding
USS - if <2cm from os after 32 weeks - like to be praevi at term
3D doppler USS to determine if accreta
Assess fetal/maternal well-being - CTG/FBC/clotting
Management of praevi?
Anti-D of Rh -ve
IV access, cross match
Nurse in left lateral position
If asymptomatic - delay birth til 37 weeks
If <34wks - steroids
Elective C section at 37-38 weeks by most senior person (Lower segment - LSCS) - if grade III/IV. Vaginal delivery if grade I
Prepare for haemorrhage - compression w/ Rusch balloon or hysterectomy
A 35 week pregnant lady has a 1 day hx of painful bleeding. O/E she is tachycardic, hypotensive, and has a tender, tense, woody hard uterus. Fetal heart beat seems abnormal. Lie is normal.
Placental abruption - part/all of placenta separates before the delivery of foetus Causes: autoimmune disease IUGR Pre-eclampsia - proteinuric hypertension Multiparity maternal trauma, smoking/cocaine use hx of abruptions Bleeding due to separation. Pain due to uterine contractions
Investigations of placental abruption?
CTG - establish fetal wellbeing (decelerations)
USS - r/o praevi
Bloods: FBC, U&E, coagulation, cross match
Rx of placental abruption?
Assessment/resuscitation: IV fluids
Nurse in left lateral position
Steroids (<34 wks)
Blood transfusion
Opiate analgesia
Anti-D if Rh -ve
Delivery: Emergency C section if fetal ditress
Labour w/ amniotomy if no fetal ditress and gestation >37wks
If <37 weeks and no distress - D/C but now high risk
Apart from praevia and abrption, name some others causes of antepartum haemorrhage
Undermined origin
Uterine rupture - sudden stop in contraction and fetal distress
Vasa praevi - fetal blood vessels run in membrane infront of presenting part - fetal distress - brisk painless bleeding at ROM
Gynae (cervical carcinoma/polyps)
Define a post partum haemorrhage
> 500mL blood loss <24h after delivery
or 1000mL after C section
Describe the causes of PPH
Tone - uterine atony in prolonged labour or retained placenta
Trauma - injury to birth canal eg w/ instrumental delivery - vaginal tear/cervical tear
Tissue - retained placenta/fetus - partial separation - blood accumulates in uterus
Thrombin - rare coagulopathy or consumption coagulopathy - DIC/shock as coagualtio factors used up in labour
RF: large baby, rapid progression, oxytocin can increase BP
How can PPH be prevented?
Use of oxytocin in 3rd stage of labour
Management of PPH?
IV access
Nurse flat
Remove placenta if bleeding or not expelled after 60mins
Uterine cause - IV oxytocin to contract uterus
Uterine atony - prostaglandin F2a into myometrium
Examine uterine cavity for retained fragments/cervix/vagina for tears
Surgery - Rusch balloon if bleeding from placental bed
Uterine artery embolization, hystrerectomy as last resort, brace suture