Transcript Document

Trauma in
Obstetrics
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Trauma in Pregnancy
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Major physiologic changes
Altered anatomical relationships
Signs and symptoms of injury may
be altered
Treatment priorities are the same
Usually the best treatment for the
fetus is the best treatment for the
mother
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Trauma in Pregnancy
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Resuscitation and stabilization may
need to be modified to
accommodate the altered
physiologic and anatomic changes
of pregnancy
2 patients
Consult OB/GYN early
Don’t withhold X-rays (10 rads or
more are teratogenic
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Priorities
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A. Airway
B. Breathing
C. Circulation
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Trauma in Pregnancy
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Physical trauma complicates 1/12
of pregnancies
Trauma is the #1 cause of non
Obstetrical maternal deaths
Serious retroperitoneal bleeding
following blunt abdominal trauma is
more common in pregnant women
as opposed to non pregnant
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Trauma in pregnancy
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Bowel injuries are less common in
pregnant patients as opposed to
non pregnant patients
The presence of vaginal bleeding
and uterine hypertonicity is
presumptive evidence of placental
abruption
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Objectives
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A. Oxygen requirements
B. Blood replacement
requirements
C.Proper patient positioning
D.Significance of fetal monitoring
E. Vaginal bleeding
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Anatomic and
Physiologic Alterations
of Pregnancy
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The Uterus is an intra pelvic organ
until the twelfth week of gestation
At 20 weeks the uterus is at the
umbilicus
At 36 weeks the uterus is at the
costal margins
In the last 2-8 weeks the fetal head
descends to become engaged in
the pelvis
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Anatomic and
Physiologic Alterations
of Pregnancy
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Intestinal tract is displaced upward
and posterior
As gestation continues the uterus
becomes more vulnerable as the
walls thin and there is less
protection by amniotic fluid
Thromboplastin and plasminogen
activator can be released with
trauma to the placenta and uterus
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Hemodynamics
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Cardiac Output- Increases 1-1.5 L
per minute by 10 weeks (Vena
cava compression in the supine
position can decrease CO by 3040%)
Heart Rate- Increases up to 15-20
beats per minute at term
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Hemodynamics
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Blood Pressure- 5-20mmHG
decrease (maximum in the second
trimester) Returns near normal at
term
Some women may exhibit
profound hypotension in the supine
position, turn patient to the left
lateral decubitus position
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Hemodynamics
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Venous pressure- CVP is variable
in pregnancy, the response to
volume is the same as in the non
pregnant state, (venous
hypertension in the lower
extremities is normal during the
third trimester)
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Hemodynamics
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EKG- There may be a left axis shift
of about 15 degrees
Flattened or inverted T waves in
leads III, AVF and the precordial
leads may be normal
Ectopic beats are slightly
increased in pregnancy-
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Blood Volume and
composition
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Plasma volume is increased and
reaches its maximum at about 34
weeks (40-50% above prepregnant levels)
RBC volume increases but not as
much as the plasma volume
resulting in a lower hematocrit (the
“so called” physiologic anemia of
pregnancy)
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Volume
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Late pregnancy hematocrit of 3135% is normal
Overall blood volume is up 50%
With hemorrhage a healthy
pregnant women may lose 30-35%
of their blood volume before
exhibiting symptoms
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Blood composition
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WBC- can be up to 20,000
Fibrinogen and other clotting
factors are elevated
Prothrombin and partial
thromboplastin times may be
shortened
Bleeding and clotting times are
unchanged
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Blood composition
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Albumin falls (2.-2.8g/dl)
Serum osmolarity remain at about
280mOsm/L
A pregnant women is twice as
likely as a non pregnant women to
develop a DVT or PE (adding
trauma to this increases the
likelihood
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Respiratory
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Respiratory rate is unchanged
Tidal Volume is increased by 40%
Residual volumes fall
PCO2 pf 30mmHg is normal
“Hyperventilation” of pregnancy
Chest X-ray shows increased lung
markings and prominent
pulmonary vessels
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Gastrointestinal
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Gastric emptying is greatly
prolonged (Pregnant women all
have full stomachs)
The uterus may shield the
intestines
The liver and spleen are
unchanged
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Urinary tract
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GFR and renal blood flow increase
during gestation
BUN and Creatinine are about half
non pregnant levels
Physiologic dilation of the renal
calyxes,pelves and ureters
Creatinine clearance increased to
150
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Endocrine
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Pituitary gland gets 30-50%
heavier during pregnancy
Shock may cause Sheehan’s
syndrome(pituitary necrosis)
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Neurologic
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Ecclampsia is a condition that may
mimic a head injury
If a seizure occurs make sure the
patient is evaluated for ecclampsia
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Initial assessment
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Position patient to avoid supine
hypotension unless spinal injury is
suspected
Left lateral positioning is preferred
If transport is needed displace
uterus to left and elevate right hip
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Initial Assessment
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Primary survey
ABC’s
Supplemental oxygen (re-breather
mask
If ventilation is required mild
hyperventilation
Crystalloid fluid resuscitation and
early blood product administration
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Initial assessment
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Blood is shunted away from the
uterus in a hypotensive state
The gravida can lose up to 35% of
her blood volume before
tachycardia, hypotension, and
other signs of hypovolemia occur
The fetus may be in shock and the
mother appear stable
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Initial assessment
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Avoid vasopressors because these
further reduce uterine blood flow
2 large bore lines (14-16 gauge)
fluid should be LR or NS replace at
3-1 for estimated blood loss
O2 saturations above 90%
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Initial Assessment
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With gun shot wounds to the
abdomen exploration is mandatory
Stab wounds to the abdomen may
be able to be observed in selected
cases
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Secondary Assessment
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Uterine irritability
Fundal height and tenderness
Fetal heart rate and movement
Pelvic exam ( look for bleeding,
premature dilation, rule out ROM
by fern and nitrazine if indicated
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Secondary Assessment
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If possible place patient on fetal
monitor to assess contractions and
fetal heart rate reactivity
With any trauma an ultra sound
exam is required to look for
placental separation and possibly
to obtain biophysical profile
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Secondary Assessment
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Ultrasound can be useful for
determining gestation age,
placental location, fetal status,
amniotic fluid volume, and fetal
position
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Monitoring
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Mother-BP, pulse, CVP if needed,
respiratory rate, pulse oximeter
Fetus-preferentially continuous
fetal and uterine monitoring
Placental abruptions can be seen
24-48 hours following trauma( if
contractions are present Abruptio
placenta is more likely)
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Monitoring
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If no contractions are present and
the fetal heart rate is reassuring
ACOG recommends 2-6 hours of
monitoring
If less than 20 weeks monitoring
may not be needed as long
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Definitive care
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Uterine rupture can present in
massive shock with hemorrhage to
a patient with minimal symptoms
Signs of uterine rupture on
radiologic exams can be extended
fetal extremities, abnormal fetal
presentations, or free
intraperitoneal air
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Definitive care
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If uterine rupture is suspected
immediate surgical exploration is
necessary
Abruptio placenta is the leading
cause of fetal death after blunt
trauma
Signs of abruption- Irritable uterus,
tetanic contractions, tenderness,
enlarging uterus
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Definitive care
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Other signs of abruptio- bleeding,
Consumptive coagulopathy,
maternal shock, pain
Retroperitoneal hemorrhage can
be massive after blunt trauma or
pelvic fracture
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Definitive care
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Remember Rh sensitization
(Kleihauer-Betke)
Administration of Rho gam (D
immunoglobin within 72 hours
Tetanus prophylaxis is the same
as in the non pregnant patient
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Definitive care
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Perimortem cesarean delivery is
unlikely to produce a living fetus if
the mother has been dead for
more than 20 minutes
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Summary
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Recognize the effect of anatomic
and physiologic changes
Vigorous shock therapy
Recognize the unique spectrum of
potential injuries
Stabilize the mother first because
the fetuses life is dependant on the
mother integrity
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Summary
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Fetal heart rate monitoring should
be maintained during resuscitation
and after stabilization
Less than 20 weeks gestation the
fetus is non viable so treat the
mother
Do not withhold diagnostic X-rays
Get an Obstetrician fast
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Summary
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Changes in vital signs can occur
relatively late so the patient may
be worse off than the vitals indicate
Ultrasound will miss an abruption
less than 30% so be clinically
aware
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