Month January 2019
CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy

Acute Fatty Liver of Pregnancy: hepatic dysfunction + microvesicular infiltration of hepatocytes; thought to be a variant of PET; fetal and maternal mortality = 20%

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Burns and Pregnancy

Burns and Pregnancy: at risk of premature labour due to high levels of circulating prostaglandins; fluid replacement must cater for increased circulating volume

CCC Critical Care compendium 1200

Eclampsia

Eclampsia: life threatening situation for the mother and baby. 1:2000 pregnancies; most occur in 3rd trimester; 1/3 post-partum; usually with in 24hrs of delivery; vasogenic cerebral oedema from hypertensive encephalopathy

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Haemorrhage and Pregnancy

Hemorrhage and Pregnancy: gravid uterus receives 15% of Q -> bleeding can be rapid; principle causes; abruption, placenta praevia, PPH; baby more at risk than mum

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

HELLP Syndrome

HELLP Syndrome: haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and a low platelet count. There is clear overlap between pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome, and it is unclear whether the latter is a primary or secondary disease process.

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Influenza and Pregnancy

Influenza and Pregnancy: known high incidence of morbidity and mortality in mother and foetus in H1N1 infection and severe community acquired pneumonia; multidisciplinary team approach: O&G, NICU, anaesthetics, ICU; planned delivery of foetus (although the teams may have conflicting interests)

CCC Critical Care compendium 340

Spinal Imaging

Spinal Imaging: CT is the best way to image the spine for bony injuries (will miss 6% of discoligamentous injuries). If suspected soft tissue or spinal cord injury -> patient requires an MRI