cOGText: Maternal Collapse

Question 1

what is maternal collapse?

Answer 1

an acute event involving the cardiorespiratory systems and/or brain resulting in a reduced or absent conscious level (and potentially death), at any stage in pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after delivery

Question 2

which obstetrics early warning score should be used routinely for all women to allow early recognition of the woman who is becoming critically ill

Answer 2

often called a Maternity Early Warning score - MEWS

Question 3

Which reversible causes of collapse must be considered, as in any acute presentation of collapse?

Answer 3

the 4Hs

• Hypovolaemia
• Hypoxia
• Hypo/hyperkalaemia (and other electrolyte imbalances)
• Hypothermia

and 4Ts

• Thromboembolism
• Toxicity
• Tension pneumothorax
• Tamponade (cardiac)

Question 4

Cause of hypovolaemia in pregnancy?

Answer 4

• Bleeding
• relative hypovolaemia of dense spinal block
• septic or neurogenic shock.