Maternal Collapse

Question 1

Is the life of the mother or the foetus favoured in interventional treatment?

Answer 1

Life of the mother.

Question 2

What are the 5 ‘H’s of maternal collapse?

Answer 2

Head
heart (4'H's and 4'T's)
Hypoxia
Haemorrhage
wHole body/Hazards

Question 3

What is the dominant hormone during pregnancy?

Answer 3

Progesterone

Question 4

What can cause supine hypertension in mothers at 20 weeks gestation?

Answer 4

The uterus compressing the IVC and aorta.

this reduces cardiac output by 40%, precipitating collapse.

Question 5

In a collapsed pregnant woman, what should be carried out after 4 minutes of CPR?

Answer 5

Perimortem C-section.

This will assist the resuscitation efforts.