Full Answer
What is a slow or no dilation of the cervix?
What is a ring in the uterus?
What is erratic uterine contraction?
What is the term for contractions that are weak, short lived, irregular, and shallow?
How many births are caused by uterine atony?
Uterine atony occurs in approximately one in every 40 births in the United States. The condition is linked with at least 80% of postpartum hemorrhage cases. 2
What is the term for a failure of the uterus to contract after delivery?
Uterine atony —also called atony of the uterus—is a complication of pregnancy that occurs after the delivery stage of labor. It is a failure of the uterus to contract following delivery.
What does it mean when your uterus feels soft and boggy?
When there are signs of excessive bleeding , and the uterus feels boggy, soft, and relaxed, after a person gives birth, a diagnosis of uterine atony is often made.
What is hypovolemic shock?
Hypovolemic shock: a serious, potentially life-threatening complication of uterine atony, involving low blood volume from the loss of blood or other fluids
How to treat uterine atony?
Uterine atony can usually be managed by manual massage of the uterus, along with medications to promote uterine contractions (called uterotonic drugs).
What is the term for an infection of the fetal membranes and amniotic fluid?
Intra-amnio tic infection, or chorioamnionitis (infection of the fetal membranes and amniotic fluid)
Is postpartum hemorrhage a uterine atony?
Postpartum hemorrhage is strongly linked with uterine atony. This is because uterine contractions are instrumental in assisting with the blood clotting process and helping the uterus to stop bleeding after delivery (particularly after the placenta is delivered).
What is primary inertia?
Primary inertia: weak uterine contractions from the start.
What is malpresentation in uterine?
Malpresentations, malpositions and cephalopelvic disproportion. The presenting part is not fitting in the lower uterine segment leading to absence of reflex uterine contractions.
How to know if you have a ring in your uterus?
The exact diagnosis is achieved only by feeling the ring with a hand introduced into the uterine cavity.
Why is the cervix bleeding minimal?
Annular detachment of the cervix: surprisingly the bleeding from the cervix is minimal because of fibrosis and avascular pressure necrosis leading to thrombosis of the vessels before detachment.
How many units of oxytocin are in 500 cc glucose?
Providing that there is no contraindication for it, 5 units of oxytocin (syntocinon) in 500 c.c glucose 5% is given by IV infusion starting with 10 drops per minute and increasing gradually to get a uterine contraction rate of 3 per 10 minutes.
Why is the placenta more susceptible to postpartum haemorrhage?
More susceptibility for retained placenta and postpartum haemorrhage due to persistent inertia.
Which segment of the uterus is hyperactive?
Hyperactive lower uterine segment: so the dominance of the upper segment is lost.
What is a slow or no dilation of the cervix?
This is a condition when there is slow or no dilatation of the cervix even in the presence of good uterine contractions. It may result from cervical stenosis as a result of previous cervical tear or infection, amputation, irradiation or cauterization (cervical erosion).
What is a ring in the uterus?
A localized spasm of a ring of circular muscle fibres of the uterus. This occurs between the two poles at the isthmus. Rare, less than 1-1000. It usually forms around a narrow part of the fetus (neck) preventing descent but occasionally at the level of the internal OS. It is a physiological ring but exaggeration of it is known as BANDL’S RING.
What is erratic uterine contraction?
So it may give rise to erratic uterine contraction leading to precipitate labour. Cervical and perineal tear may occur. Fetal hypoxia may occur, injuries to the baby’s head. Umbilical cord may tear or cult leading to haemorrhage .
What is the term for contractions that are weak, short lived, irregular, and shallow?
This term is used when the uterine contractions are weak, short lived (duration), infrequent, irregular and shallow. The contractions are less painful and the uterus is well relaxed between contractions. The labour may begin with this type of contraction and continue throughout the stage of labour. This is known as “primary uterine inertia”. Usually common with the primigravidae. It is a faint shadow of normal pattern of labour – so called “False labour.” It has less effect on cervical dilatation . It leads to prolonged labour, but becomes stronger in the second stage of labour.
Causes
Symptoms
- The primary symptom of uterine atony is a relaxed uterus, which is one that shows no signs of tightness or tension after birth. When palpated (manually felt) after delivery by a healthcare provider, the uterus may feel boggy (spongy) or enlarged. The symptoms of postpartum hemorrhage—caused by uterine atony—include: 1. Uncontrollable bleeding 2. Low blood pressu…
Diagnosis
- When there are signs of excessive bleeding, and the uterus feels boggy, soft, and relaxed, after a person gives birth, a diagnosis of uterine atony is often made. Blood loss could be calculated by assessing the number of saturated sanitary pads or by weighing the pads or sponges used to absorb the blood. Other sources of bleeding(such as a tear in the cervix or vagina) will be ruled …
Treatment
- Uterine atony can usually be managed by manual massage of the uterus, along with medications to promote uterine contractions (called uterotonic drugs). These drugs help enhance contractions of the uterus and control bleeding, they include:3 1. Oxytocin 2. Methergine 3. Prostaglandins (such as Hemabate) 4. Ergot alkaloids 5. Misoprostol For cases of uterine atony, with complicati…
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does uterine atony cause postpartum hemorrhage?
Postpartum hemorrhage is strongly linked with uterine atony. This is because uterine contractions are instrumental in assisting with the blood clotting process and helping the uterus to stop bleeding after delivery (particularly after the placentais delivered). - How common is uterine atony?
Somewhat common, as uterine atony occurs in approximately one in every 40 births (2.5%) in the United States. However, the condition is very serious because it's responsible for at least 80% of postpartum hemorrhage cases.2