Pregnancy

Approach to dyspnoea in pregnancy in the COVID-19 era

Case Reports, Volume 19, Issue 4, Pages 173 – 252 (2020)

Importance: Dyspnoea and hypoxia in pregnant women during the COVID-19 pandemic may be due to causes other than SARS Co-V-2 infection which should not be ignored. Shared decision-making regarding early delivery is paramount.

Objective: To highlight and discuss the differential diagnoses of dyspnoea and hypoxia in pregnant women and to discuss the risks versus benefit of delivery for maternal compromise.

Design, setting and participants: Case series of two pregnant women who presented with dyspnoea and hypoxia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Two pregnant women presented with dyspnoea and hypoxia. The first case had COVID-19 infection in the 3rd trimester. The second case had an exacerbation of asthma without concurrent COVID-19. Only the first case required intubation and delivery. Both recovered and were discharged home.

Conclusion and relevance: Our two cases highlight the importance of making the correct diagnosis and timely decision-making to consider if delivery for maternal compromise is warranted. Whilst COVID-19 is a current healthcare concern other differential diagnoses must still be considered when pregnant women present with dyspnoea and hypoxia.
Objective: To highlight and discuss the differential diagnoses of dyspnoea and hypoxia in pregnant women and to discuss the risks versus benefit of delivery for maternal compromise.

Design, setting and participants: Case series of two pregnant women who presented with dyspnoea and hypoxia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results: Two pregnant women presented with dyspnoea and hypoxia. The first case had COVID-19 infection in the 3rd trimester. The second case had an exacerbation of asthma without concurrent COVID-19. Only the first case required intubation and delivery. Both recovered and were discharged home.

Conclusion and relevance: Our two cases highlight the importance of making the correct diagnosis and timely decision-making to consider if delivery for maternal compromise is warranted. Whilst COVID-19 is a current healthcare concern other differential diagnoses must still be considered when pregnant women present with dyspnoea and hypoxia.

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Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Unmasked by Pregnancy

Case Reports, Volume 19, Issue 4, Pages 173 – 252 (2020)

A 31-year old woman presented to the acute medical unit 9 days post-partum with shortness of breath and peripheral oedema. Initially suspected to have either a pulmonary embolism or post-partum cardiomyopathy, she proceeded to have imaging including a CT Pulmonary angiogram and echocardiogram, which were suggestive of pulmonary hypertension and severe right heart failure. Her history and other investigations did not reveal any obvious cause for this. She was transferred to a specialist centre where she was diagnosed with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (IPAH), previously known as primary pulmonary hypertension. Shortness of breath during pregnancy and in the postpartum period is a relatively common acute medical presentation. Whilst IPAH is a rare diagnosis, it carries a high mortality rate, particularly in pregnancy, and requires prompt specialist investigation, diagnosis and management.

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Investigating for pulmonary embolism in pregnancy: Five year retrospective review of referrals to the acute medical unit of a large teaching hospital

Research Audit and Clinical Practice, Volume 15, Issue 2, Pages 49 - 108 (2016)

This was a retrospective review of five years’ data relating to patients referred to the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) of a large teaching hospital with suspected Pulmonary Embolism (PE) during pregnancy or 6 weeks postpartum. During this period, 210 patients in this group underwent half-dose perfusion scanning as investigation for possible PE and were managed via our ambulatory pathway. Pulmonary embolism was diagnosed in 5.2% of patients compared to 18% of non-pregnant patients identified in a previous audit. Half-dose Q scanning enabled exclusion of PE in almost 90% of patients without the need for further imaging. A new local pathway for the investigation and management of PE during pregnancy has now been developed.

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Problem based review: The Pregnant Woman Presenting to the AMU with Palpitations

Trainee Section, Volume 13, Issue 3, Pages 101 - 148 (2014)

Abstract

Pregnant patients commonly present to the acute medical team with symptoms requiring further investigation. Palpitations are a common reason for presentation on the acute medical take, and most acute physicians will be familiar with the process of investigation. The combination of pregnancy and palpitations raises a broad differential diagnosis and can complicate the management pathway. This problem based review is designed to summarise the key issues which may arise during the management of a typical patient presenting in this way.

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Problem based review: pulmonary embolism in pregnancy

Trainee Section, Volume 12, Issue 4, Pages 185 - 252 (2013)

Pulmonary embolism (PE) in pregnancy carries a significant mortality. Pregnant patients often present via the acute medical take with symptoms of possible PE and require timely assessment and investigation. The symptoms of PE are sometimes very difficult to differentiate from those of normal pregnancy and the vast majority of patients will require imaging. The radiation risks to mother and foetus from imaging may cause considerable anxiety (to both patients and healthcare providers) and need to be explained to patients in the context of a potentially life-threatening condition so they can be actively involved in decision-making on how best to proceed. When PE is diagnosed in pregnancy, there are obstetric considerations around the time of delivery and women should receive specialist follow-up.

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Management of Medical Emergencies in Pregnancy

Clinical Reviews, Volume 1, Issue 3, Pages 77 - 117 (2002)

Abstract

Medical emergencies in pregnant women pose many challenges if both the baby and mother are to have an optimal outcome. Multidisciplinary team working is essential to ensure that the correct treatment is offered, and that potentially lifesaving options are not discarded because of unwarranted concerns about safety in pregnancy. Expertise should be sought from doctors with a special interest in obstetric medicine.

Clinical problems include those unique to pregnancy such as eclampsia or acute fatty liver of pregnancy, exacerbations of chronic medical diseases some of which can be predicted such as pulmonary hypertension, or conditions which have an increased frequency in pregnancy including thromboembolism, urinary tract infection and Bell’s palsy. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation in pregnancy should be managed in the left lateral position, with early recourse to delivery of the fetus.

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