
Cocaine Toxicity and Obstetrics
Cocaine Toxicity and Obstetrics:

Cocaine Toxicity and Obstetrics:

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

Ectopic pregnancy = fertilized ovum which implants outside the lining of the uterus

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

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)

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) includes: endometritis, chorioamnionitis, intra-amniotic infection syndrome, salpingitis, tubo-ovarian abscess, pelvic cellulitis, pelvic peritonitis

Obstetric and Gynaecology Literature Summaries

Physiology of Pregnancy

Pneumonia in Pregnancy: 2 patients; treatment dependent on stage of pregnancy (first trimester: avoidance of teratogenicity, third trimester: prevention of pre-term labour)
signs of severe sepsis may be masked by normal pregnancy changes

Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia: multisystem disorder of pregnancy characterised by hypertension and organ system derangement; defective trophoblast invasion of the spiral arteries and abnormal trophoblast differentiation.

Pregnancy and Intensive Care: Common reasons for admission include hypertensive disorders; haemorrhage; respiratory failure; sepsis; trauma

Trauma and Pregnancy: leading cause of non-obstetric maternal mortality -> also has a high chance of fetal loss; ATLS approach (primary and secondary survey) including safe transport to trauma centre with obstetric care.