Postpartum Uterus Flashcards
(20 cards)
What is the puerperium?
The time immediately after the delivery of a baby
In Latin, a ‘puerpera’ is a woman in childbirth since ‘puer’ means child and ‘parere’ means to give birth.
What is puerperal fever?
Childbirth (or childbed) fever due to an infection usually of the placental site within the uterus.
What is the normal appearance of the postpartum uterus?
- Cervical os open and ill-defined
- Homogeneous myometrium
- Enlarged myometrial vessels
- Thick endometrium
- Endometrial free fluid
- Large uterus
- Flaccid uterine ligaments
What is the blood loss threshold for vaginal delivery?
Greater than 500 mL.
What is the blood loss threshold for cesarean delivery?
Greater than 1,000 mL.
What is placenta accreta?
The placenta firmly attaches to the wall of the uterus without passing through it.
What is placenta increta?
The placenta is more deeply embedded in the wall of the uterus but does not pass through it.
What is placenta percreta?
The placenta passes through the wall of the uterus.
Name a common cause of abnormal placental attachment.
Placenta accreta, increta, and percreta.
What is uterine atony?
When the uterus doesn’t contract enough after childbirth, leading to potential postpartum hemorrhage.
What are the symptoms of puerperal infection?
- Temperature over 100.4° F/38° C
- Chills
- Headache
- Malaise
- Anorexia
- Large tender uterus
What types of infection can occur postpartum?
- Kidney
- Breast
- Endometritis
- Thrombophlebitis
What causes endometritis?
- Migration of normal flora
- PROM
- RPOC
- Prolonged labor
- Vaginal delivery after a C-section
What is the sonographic appearance of endometritis?
- Thick irregular endometrium
- Possible fluid in the endocervical canal
- Gas
- RPOC
What is postpartum ovarian vein thrombophlebitis (POVT)?
Clot within the ovarian vein, increased with cesarean deliveries.
What is Virchow’s triad in relation to postpartum conditions?
- Hypercoagulability of blood during pregnancy and postpartum
- Venous stasis
- Venous wall damage due to uterus expansion and contraction
What is the most common site of hematomas after cesarean delivery?
Bladder flap.
What percentage of deliveries in the US were cesarean sections in 2007?
31.8%.
Fill in the blank: The most common complication following cesarean delivery is _______.
Infection.
What characterizes a postsurgical abscess?
Complex appearance on imaging.
