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Labor and Delivery

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False labor-braxton-hicks

True Labor-bloody show

Stage I-until full dilation and effacement

Stage II-until Delivery Deliver by slightly extending head and facing it towards mom’s thigh, clear mouth, then nose, pull down to clear anterior shoulder then push up to do posterior.

Bad Signs on toco-decreased variability, decels (variable ok, early is normal, late is bad)

Clamp cord 10 cm from newborn

Stage III-until delivery of the placenta, make sure uterus is firm

Stage IV-until 1 hr after stage III.  Oxytocin 20 to 40 u/L @ 200 cc/hr

 

Preterm labor-before 37 weeks

Tocolysis-Mg Sulfate or Terbutaline

Complicated Delivery:

Breech-avoid neck extension, try to flex head by putting fingers in the mouth, grasp by waist, not abd.

Shoulder dystocia-drain mom’s bladder c foley, have mom bring legs to chest.

Help

Episiotomy

Legs Flexed

Pressure

Enter Vagina

Remove Arm

Umbilical Cord Emergencies

Maternal Problems

Uterine Atony

Retained Products of Conception

Placenta Acreta

Uterine Inversion-reposition immediately or cervix will close

Uterine Rupture-especially in VBACS

INFXN

Endometriosis

Postpartum Cardiomyopathy

Post-Abortion Complications

Give Methergine .2 mg IM

 

 

Zavannelli Maneuver

place mother on all fours put hand on baby’s bottom, and push it back in

Pinard Maneuver

perform generous episiotomy

allow baby to come out until umbilicus

deliver 1 leg, then the other

apply traction until axilla seen

rotate 90 and deliver arm

rotate 180 and deliver 2nd arm

then pace baby face down and deliver heas

 

 

Complications at L&D

Amniotic Fluid Embolism

(Crit Care Med 2005;33(10):S279) during L/D or immediately post-partum (30 min) occurs from breach in the barrier between fluid and maternal circ Hypoxia, hypotension, AMS, and possibly DIC Initially V/Q mismatch from inciting embolic event also card edema from L vent fx Later NCPE takes precedence from ARDS Historically, aspirating fluid debris from PA cath was considered pathognomonic

probably from stool in the bloodstream

 

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Life threatening post-partum hemorrhage

from ResusME

November 22, 2009 by Cliff   Filed under All Updates, Guidelines, ICU, Resus Room

A mother may experience life-threatening haemorrhage after delivery of her baby. What can the resuscitation doctor do?

Rosen’s Emergency Medicine describes four main differential diagnoses: uterine atony, genital tract trauma, retained placental tissue, and coagulopathies, or the “four Ts”: tone, trauma, tissue, and thrombin.

As well as resuscitation with fluid and blood products and urgent obstetric and anaesthetic referral, efforts should be made to restore uterine tone with manual and pharmacological means, and consider tamponade of the haemorrhage.

The MOET (Management of Obstetric Emergencies & Trauma) Course outlines the following interventions for major obstetric haemorrhage:

  • Empty uterus: deliver fetus if undelivered / remove placenta or retained products (this may need to be done digitally according to Rosen)
  • Oxytocin / ergometrine / prostaglandin
  • Massage & bimanual compression of uterus
  • Repair genital tract injury
  • Uterine packing, blakemore or Rusch balloon
  • Compression of aorta
  • Surgical or interventional radiological options: internal iliac or uterine artery ligation, hysterectomy, arterial embolisation

A review of the different balloon tamponade devices available describes the urological Rusch balloon, the dedicated Bakri balloon, a condom sutured to a Foley catheter, multiple Foley catheters, and the Sengstaken-Blakemore tube (SBT). In order for the SBT balloon to reach the uterine fundus, either the tip of the catheter can be cut and the gastric balloon inflated, or the SBT can be folded and the oesophageal balloon inflated. Normal saline is used to inflate the balloon until tamponade is achieved. If the cervix is dilated, vaginal packing may be necessary to prevent migration of the balloon out of the uterus..

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists published 2009 guidelines on PPH. The full text is available here. After commencing resuscitation, summoning help, considering the ‘four T’s’, and examining the patient they recommend:

  • Bimanual uterine compression (rubbing up the fundus) to stimulate contractions.
  • Ensure bladder is empty (Foley catheter, leave in place).
  • Syntocinon 5 units by slow intravenous injection (may have repeat dose).
  • Ergometrine 0.5 mg by slow intravenous or intramuscular injection (contraindicated in women with hypertension).
  • Syntocinon infusion (40 units in 500 ml Hartmann’s solution at 125 ml/hour) unless fluid restriction is necessary.
  • Carboprost 0.25 mg by intramuscular injection repeated at intervals of not less than 15 minutes to a maximum of 8 doses (contraindicated in women with asthma).
  • Direct intramyometrial injection of carboprost 0.5 mg (contraindicated in women with asthma), with responsibility of the administering clinician as it is not recommended for intramyometrial use.
  • Misoprostol 1000 micrograms rectally.

Balloon tamponade may then be attempted in cases of uterine atony pending surgical haemostasis if necessary.

As with all life-threatening emergencies, the resuscitation doctor should have a plan, and know his or her options regarding personnel, facilities and equipment. We recommend a closer look at the articles and guidelines referenced above in formulating your own plan as to how you might save a young mother’s life.

Aortic Occlusion

(Acta Anaes Scand 2012;56:388)

 

 

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