Best practice & research. Clinical obstetrics & gynaecology
-
Every minute of every day, a woman dies in pregnancy or childbirth. The biggest killer is obstetric haemorrhage, the successful treatment of which is a challenge for both the developed and developing worlds. The presence of an attendant at every birth and access to emergency obstetric care are key to reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in the developing world while resource-rich countries have a rising caesarean section rate with its consequential effect on the incidence of abnormal placentation and its link with peripartum hysterectomy. ⋯ Various methods are available to try to stop the bleeding - from pharmacological methods to aid uterine contraction (e.g., oxytocinon, ergometrine and prostaglandins) to surgical methods to stem the bleeding (e.g., balloon tamponade, compression sutures or arterial ligation). Interventional radiology can be used if placenta accreta is suspected. Cell salvage has been introduced into obstetrics relatively recently in an attempt to reduce allogeneic transfusion.
-
Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol · Jun 2010
ReviewPharmacogenetic influences in obstetric anaesthesia.
Genomic discoveries in the field of perioperative medicine and anaesthesia have generated multiple publications and some hope that pharmacogenetic testing may guide clinicians to provide safe and effective medicine in a 'tailored' manner. Within the field of anaesthesia, many consider that 'titration of drugs to the desired effect works just fine' and wonder if pharmacogenomics will ever impact on their daily practice. This review will cite practical examples of relevant candidates genes and common polymorphisms that have shown to alter the response to medication prescribed in the peripartum period by obstetricians and anaesthesiologists.
-
The coagulation system undergoes significant change during pregnancy. The clinician caring for the parturient must understand these changes, particularly when the parturient has a pre-existing haematological condition. Because many haematological conditions are rare, there often is limited information to guide the obstetric and anaesthetic management of these parturients.
-
Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol · Oct 2009
ReviewUrgent care in gynaecology: resuscitation and management of sepsis and acute blood loss.
Sepsis and/or acute blood loss can be encoutered as an emergency condition in gynaecology, especially in women with ectopic pregnancy/miscarriage, acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID)/tuboovarian abscesses, post-puerperal sepsis/haemorrhage and even in postoperative scenarios. If underestimated or suboptimally treated, both can lead to an inadequate tissue perfusion (defined as shock) and the development of multi-organ failure. Morbidity and mortality after development of one of the shock syndromes (septic or haemorrhagic) correlates directly with the duration and severity of the malperfusion. ⋯ In septic shock, hypotension is primarily treated with fluid administration and eventually vasopressors, if required, in order to improve the circulation. Timely administration of antibiotics, control of infectious foci, appropriate use of corticoids and recombinant human activated protein C, tight glucose control, prophylaxis of deep vein thrombosis and stress ulcer prevention complete the therapy of septic shock. In haemorrhagic shock, the treatment primarily involves controlling haemorrhage, reversal of possible coagulopathy and administration of sufficient volumes of fluids and blood products to restore normal tissue perfusion.
-
Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol · Oct 2009
ReviewOvarian hyperstimulation syndrome and complications of ART.
This article reviews serious clinical complications related to assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures (ovarian stimulation and oocyte aspiration), including ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), bleeding and infection. These complications are rare, but can be severe and even life-threatening. It is important that general practitioners and gynaecologists are aware of these complications, because they will often be the first to be contacted by patients. Similarly, patients should be counselled before starting ART procedures that iatrogenic complications can be associated with ovarian stimulation and/or oocyte aspiration.