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BMJ Clinical Review: Obstestrics and Gynaecology

BMJ Clinical Review: Obstestrics and Gynaecology

Doctor Babita Jyoti | Mrs Eleftheria Kleidi

(2016)

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Book Details

Abstract

Translating genomics into improved healthcare Pre-implantation genetic testing Cell-free fetal DNA and RNA in maternal blood: implications for safer antenatal testing Preventing transmission of maternally inherited mitochondrial DNA diseases Contraception for women: an evidence based overview Pre-pregnancy care Abortion Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy Diagnosis and management of first trimester miscarriage Gestational trophoblastic disease: current management of hydatidiform mole The management of teenage pregnancy Management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy Advising on travel during pregnancy Skin disease in pregnancy Obstetric anal sphincter injury Managing perineal trauma after childbirth Postpartum management of hypertension Diagnosis and management of premenstrual disorders Managing unscheduled bleeding in non-pregnant premenopausal women Screening and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infections Endometriosis Developing role of HPV in cervical cancer prevention Endometrial cancer Assessment and management of vulval pain Chronic pelvic pain in women

Dr Babita Jyoti is a Radiation Oncologist with a special interest in Paediatric Proton Therapy. She graduated in Medicine in India followed by training in UK and obtained MRCP (UK) & FRCR (UK). 
She trained as a Clinical Oncologist at Clatterbridge Cancer Centre. She is currently working at the University of Florida Health Proton Therapy Institute in Paediatric Proton Therapy. She has been a PBL tutor and an OSCE examiner at Manchester Medical School. 

Mrs Eleftheria Kleidi is a Specialty Registrar in Upper Gastrointestinal Surgery at Leighton Hospital, Crewe. She qualified from the Medical School of the University of Crete in 2004. After her foundation years, she started her training in general surgery in Athens and obtained her CCT in 2013. Since then, she has been specialising in UGI surgery and Bariatrics and was awarded the scholarship of the College of Surgeons of Greece for training in the UK. She completed her PhD in Bariatrics at the University of Athens in 2015. 

 

Table of Contents

Section Title Page Action Price
Book Cover C
Title i
Copyright ii
About the publisher iii
About The BMJ iii
Contents iv
About the editors vi
Introduction to Obsetrics and Gynaecology vii
Prepregnancy care 1
Why should prepregnancy advice become an integral part of healthcare services? 1
What lifestyle changes should a woman planning pregnancy consider? 1
Which infections can harm the fetus? 1
Which drugs should be avoided and which are safe to continue? 3
What advice should be given to a woman with a chronic medical condition? 3
Why is prepregnancy advice important to women with mental health disorders? 4
When should women with a pre-existing medical condition conceive? 5
Should prepregnancy genetic screening be carried out? 5
What is the best way to get pregnant? 5
What is the evidence that prepregnancy health promotion works? 5
Related links 7
Abortion 8
Who can perform abortions? 8
What is the role of counselling before abortion? 8
What medical assessment is required? 8
What methods are available? 9
Surgical abortion 9
Medical abortion 9
Which method of abortion is preferable? 10
How is pain managed during abortion? 10
What are the risks associated with abortion? 10
Ongoing pregnancy 10
Incomplete abortion 11
Haemorrhage 11
Uterine perforation and cervical laceration 11
Infection 11
Long term sequelae 11
What follow-up is needed? 11
What contraceptive methods can be started after an abortion? 12
Diagnosis and management of ectopic pregnancy 15
What is ectopic pregnancy? 15
What causes ectopic pregnancy and who is at risk? 15
How is ectopic pregnancy diagnosed? 15
Clinical findings 15
Ultrasound 16
Serum biochemistry 16
Surgery and histopathology 16
How is ectopic pregnancy treated? 16
Referral 16
Surgery 17
Medical treatment 17
Expectant management 17
Does ectopic pregnancy affect future fertility? 17
What are the recommendations from clinical guidelines? 17
Psychological support 18
Diagnosis and management of first trimester miscarriage 20
What is miscarriage? 20
What causes miscarriage? 20
How is miscarriage diagnosed? 20
Clinical findings 20
How can ultrasound help diagnose miscarriage? 21
Early fetal demise 21
Incomplete miscarriage 21
Complete miscarriage 21
What is the role of biochemical markers? 21
What is the role of surgery and histology? 22
Is it possible to prevent miscarriage? 22
How is miscarriage managed? 22
When to refer? 22
Expectant management 22
Medical management 22
Surgical treatment 22
Choice of treatment 23
What to expect during the recovery period? 23
What are the psychological needs of women who miscarry? 23
What do clinical guidelines recommend? 23
Gestational trophoblastic disease: current management of hydatidiform mole 26
How common is gestational trophoblastic disease? 26
What is hydatidiform mole and who gets it? 26
How does gestational trophoblastic disease present clinically? 26
How is a diagnosis of gestational trophoblastic disease made? 26
How are hydatidiform moles initially managed? 26
What is the risk of malignancy and should women be screened? 27
What factors increase the risk of malignant progression of hydatidiform mole? 28
Who needs chemotherapy after hydatidiform mole? 28
What happens to patients referred for specialist treatment? 28
Follow-up after chemotherapy 29
Are cases of hydatidiform mole missed in the UK and should we worry? 29
How should gestational trophoblastic disease be screening for and treated in developing countries? 29
The management of teenage pregnancy 32
How common is teenage pregnancy? 32
Who is more likely to be a teenage mother? 32
What are the medical considerations in teenage pregnancies? 32
What are the social considerations of teenage pregnancy? 33
Can teenage pregnancy be prevented? 33
Who is involved in caring for teenage mothers? 33
How should teenage mothers be cared for during pregnancy? 34
Dietary considerations 34
Avoidance of smoking, alcohol, and drugs 34
Screening for sexually transmitted infections 34
Family involvement 34
What are the needs of teenage mothers in the postnatal period? 34
Management of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy 37
Who gets hyperemesis gravidarum? 37
What is the underlying pathophysiology of nausea and vomiting in pregnancy? 37
How is hyperemesis gravidarum diagnosed? 38
What are the treatment options? 38
Diet and supplements 38
Intravenous fluids, vitamin supplements, and thromboprophylaxis 38
Antiemetics 39
Corticosteroids 39
Summary of antiemetic use 40
Clinical model of care in nausea and vomiting in pregnancy 40
Conclusion 40
Advising on travel during pregnancy 43
What are usual restrictions on travel in pregnancy? 43
Who is at increased risk of adverse outcome and when? 43
First trimester 43
Second trimester 43
Third trimester 43
What are the specific risks associated with air travel? 43
Miscarriage and preterm birth 43
Venous thromboembolism (box 2) 44
Exposure to radiation 44
Low oxygen saturation 44
What are the risks from communicable diseases? 44
Travellers’ diarrhoea (box 3) 44
Malaria in pregnancy 45
Other infections 45
What pre-travel advice should you give after assessing risk? 45
Women considering air travel 45
Women consulting early in pregnancy 45
Women consulting after the first trimester 45
Extended travel abroad and advice on travel insurance 46
Travel to a malaria endemic country 46
Are travel vaccinations safe in pregnancy? 46
Considerations in the returning pregnant traveller 46
Skin disease in pregnancy 48
Why is skin disease common in pregnancy? 48
What are the specific dermatoses of pregnancy? 48
Pemphigoid gestationis 48
Polymorphic eruption of pregnancy 48
Atopic eruption of pregnancy 49
Algorithmic approach to the specific dermatoses of pregnancy 49
How are the specific dermatoses of pregnancy treated? 49
What are the other common skin diseases in pregnancy? 50
Inflammatory skin diseases 50
Psoriasis vulgaris 50
Acne vulgaris 50
Acne rosacea 50
Pityriasis rosea 50
Urticaria 51
Erythema nodosum 51
Skin infections and infestations 51
Herpes simplex virus 51
Varicella zoster virus 51
Scabies 51
Autoimmune skin diseases 52
Systemic lupus erythematosus 52
Pemphigus vulgaris 52
Skin tumours 52
Benign melanocytic naevi 52
Malignant melanoma 52
What drugs can be used systemically in pregnancy? 53
What are the recommendations for use of topical corticosteroids? 53
Diagnosis and management of subclinical hypothyroidism in pregnancy 56
Introduction 56
Definition of subclinical hypothyroidism 56
Thyrotropin and free thyroxine ranges in different trimesters 56
Thyrotropin and free thyroxine ranges in different countries 56
Measurement of free thyroxine 57
Causes of hypothyroidism 57
Prevalence of subclinical hypothyroidism 58
Iodine deficiency in pregnancy 58
Impact of subclinical hypothyroidism on pregnancy outcome and intellectual development of the fetus 58
Pregnancy complications excluding neuro-intellectual development 58
Neurologic and intellectual complications 59
Studies that included women with subclinical hypothyroidism or overt hypothyriodism 60
Treatment of subclinical hypothyroidism 60
Women without pre-existing hypothyroidism 60
Women with pre-existing hypothyroidism 60
Maintenance and monitoring of levothyroxine therapy 61
Recommendations 61
Application in clinical practice 61
Screening for thyroid disease in pregnancy 61
Geographic considerations 62
Future studies 62
Conclusion 62
Preterm birth and the role of neuroprotection 66
Introduction 66
Incidence 66
Preterm birth 66
Epidemiology 66
Survival of preterm neonates 66
Neurodevelopmental consequences of prematurity 66
Cerebral palsy 66
Definition and risk factors 66
Pathophysiology 67
Incidence 67
Other neurodevelopmental consequences of prematurity 67
Motor dysfunction 67
Sensorineural hearing loss and blindness 68
Cognitive and academic outcomes 68
Pathophysiology of preterm birth and perinatal brain injury 68
Prevention of preterm birth: progesterone 69
Neuroprotective effects of progesterone 69
Neuroprotection with corticosteroids 69
Definition of viability and changing use of steroids 70
Neuroprotection with magnesium sulfate 70
Concerns over the use of magnesium sulfate 70
Magnesium: mechanism of action 71
Evidence supporting the use of magnesium 71
Protocol development 72
Emerging treatments 72
N-acetylcysteine 72
Erythropoietin 72
Melatonin 72
Umbilical cord blood stem cells 72
Summary of emerging treatments 73
Conclusion 73
Obstetric anal sphincter injury 76
What is obstetric anal sphincter injury and how can it be recognised? 76
How many women get it? 76
Why might the incidence be underestimated clinically? 76
What are the risk factors for obstetric anal sphincter injury? 76
How is obstetric anal sphincter injury managed after childbirth? 77
Repair of the anal sphincter 77
What is the optimum method of repair? 77
Additional treatment: antibiotics and laxatives 77
How should third and fourth degree perineal tears be followed up? 78
Tools for assessing the problem 78
What problems are associated with obstetric anal sphincter injury? 78
What is the prognosis for these patients? 78
What influences the prognosis? 79
What is the advice for future deliveries? 79
What is the role of caesarean section? 79
Training 79
Managing perineal trauma after childbirth 81
What is perineal trauma? 81
How common is it? 81
What are the risk factors? 81
How should perineal trauma be managed in the immediate post-delivery period? 81
Recommended repair technique and material for perineal trauma 81
Perineal repair training 82
What is the approach to assessment and management in primary care? 82
What are the complications of childbirth related perineal trauma? 83
Infection 83
Wound dehiscence 83
Excessive granulation tissue formation 84
What is the impact of childbirth related perineal trauma on sexual function? 84
What is the role of pelvic floor muscle exercises for women with perineal trauma? 85
Postpartum management of hypertension 87
What are the normal blood pressure changes during pregnancy and postpartum? 87
How should blood pressure be measured? 87
What causes and known associations should be included when assessing early postpartum hypertension? 87
How quickly should pregnancy associated hypertension resolve? 87
How should new onset postpartum hypertension be identified? 87
Why should postpartum hypertension be identified? 88
How should women with early postpartum hypertension be managed? 88
How should women with postpartum hypertension be managed after discharge? 88
Which antihypertensives should be used? 88
Who should be investigated for secondary hypertension? 89
When should persistent proteinuria be investigated? 89
What are the implications of hypertension in pregnancy for future pregnancies? 90
How should long term health risk be assessed and managed? 90
Diagnosis and management of premenstrual disorders 93
How should symptoms be measured? 93
How are premenstrual disorders diagnosed? 93
How are premenstrual disorders managed? 93
The consultation and treatment planning 93
Which treatments can be effective without suppressing ovulation? 94
Non-drug based treatments 94
Diuretics 94
Psychotropic drugs 94
How can we treat premenstrual disorders using hormones? 95
Hormonal treatment that does not suppress ovulation 95
Treatment by suppression of ovulation 95
Oral contraception 95
GnRH agonist analogues 95
Danazol 96
Estradiol 96
Is surgery a reasonable option? 97
Managing premenstrual disorders in general practice 97
Managing unscheduled bleeding in non-pregnant premenopausal women 100
Who gets unscheduled bleeding? 100
What causes unscheduled bleeding? 100
Intermenstrual bleeding 100
Postcoital bleeding 101
Breakthrough bleeding with hormonal contraception 102
How should I evaluate a woman with unscheduled bleeding? 102
Examination 103
Investigations 103
What is the role of ultrasound? 103
When is endometrial biopsy indicated? 103
How should I investigate women aged 20-24 years not on hormonal contraception? 104
How should women with abnormal bleeding while using hormonal contraception be investigated? 104
What treatment will be required? 104
How do I treat bleeding associated with contraception? 104
Screening and treatment of Chlamydia trachomatis infections 107
How common is chlamydia infection and who gets it? 107
How common are the serious consequences of chlamydia infection? 107
Chlamydia infection in women 107
Chlamydia infection in men 107
Infection in pregnancy 107
Other sequelae 107
How effective is screening for chlamydia infection? 107
What strategies can help to control chlamydia? 108
An opportunistic screening approach 108
What does testing for chlamydia involve? 109
Samples 109
Tests 109
Potential effects of chlamydia screening 109
How to manage a positive test result 109
Treating the infected person 109
Treating partners 109
Notifying partners 109
What is the best way to screen for chlamydia infection in community settings? 110
General practice 110
Pharmacies 110
Community sexual reproductive health 110
Innovation within chlamydia screening programmes 110
Conclusion 110
Fibroids: diagnosis and management 113
What are fibroids and where are they found? 113
What controls the growth of fibroids? 113
What is the clinical course of uterine fibroids? 113
How do women with fibroids present? 113
When do fibroids need to be investigated? 113
When should women be referred to secondary care? 113
What imaging investigations are useful in the assessment of fibroids? 113
When do fibroids need to be treated and how do doctors and patients select the best treatment? 114
What treatments can be considered in general practice without referral to specialist care? 114
Which are the most effective medical treatments? 114
What treatments are undertaken in secondary care? 114
Radiological treatments 114
Uterine artery embolisation 114
Surgical treatments 115
Myomectomy 115
Hysterectomy 117
What happens to fibroids during pregnancy? 117
Is there a risk of malignant transformation? 117
Endometriosis 119
What is endometreiosis? 119
What are the causes of endometriosis? 119
What is the natural course of endometriosis? 119
Are any other conditions commonly associated with endometriosis? 119
When should a clinician suspect endometriosis? 119
Pain 119
Infertility 120
What clinical examination is helpful to diagnose endometriosis? 120
What is the role of imaging in the diagnosis of endometriosis? 120
Ultrasonography 120
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 120
Are biomarkers useful in diagnosing endometriosis? 120
What are the indications for laparoscopy? 120
How can endometriosis be treated? 121
Medical treatments to improve pain by suppression of endometriosis 121
Analgesia for pain associated with endometriosis 121
Emerging medical treatments for endometriosis 121
Surgical treatments for pain associated with endometriosis 121
Is there any evidence for complementary therapies in treatment of endometriosis? 122
What is the treatment for infertility associated with endometriosis? 122
Summary of fertility treatment options 122
Potential future treatments for infertility associated with endometriosis 122
What happens if endometriosis recurs after treatment and can recurrence be prevented? 123
Developing role of HPV in cervical cancer prevention 125
Who is at risk of cervical cancer? 125
How effective is cervical screening? 125
What improvements can HPV testing offer? 125
Strategies for exploiting HPV testing in cervical screening programmes 126
Secondary HPV testing (triage) of low grade abnormalities identified by primary cytology, before referral to colposcopy 126
HPV as test of cure after treatment of CIN 126
Use of HPV test as the primary screening test 126
Should women younger than 25 years be screened? 126
What are the HPV vaccines and why are they important? 127
Will vaccination mean that screening becomes unnecessary? 128
How can HPV based strategies benefit women in the developing world? 128
Endometrial cancer 131
Who gets endometrial cancer and what causes it? 131
What types are there? 131
How does a patient with endometrial cancer present? 131
How is the diagnosis made? 131
Referral to a gynaecologic oncology specialist centre 132
FIGO stage I 132
FIGO stages II-IV 133
How is endometrial cancer staged? 133
How is treatment decided? 133
What is the preferred surgical approach? 133
What is the role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy? 133
How should patients be followed up? 134
Diagnosis of ovarian cancer 136
What are the types of ovarian cancer and why is this relevant? 136
What risk factors are associated with ovarian cancer? 136
Epidemiological risk factors 136
Genetic risk factors 136
How do women with ovarian cancer present? 136
When should ovarian cancer be suspected in primary care? 137
Are CA125 tests and ultrasonography reliable? 137
CA125 testing 137
Ultrasonography 137
How can ovarian cancer be detected in premenopausal women? 137
What is the role of screening and prevention strategies? 138
What is recommended for women with a known genetic predisposition? 138
Are there any tests on the horizon? 138
What treatments are available for ovarian cancer? 138
What are the survival statistics? 139
Assessment and management of vulval pain 141
Who get vulval pain and what causes it? 141
Acute vulval pain 141
Chronic vulval pain 141
How should patients with vulval pain be evaluated? 141
History: which questions are important to ask? 141
Examination of a woman with vulval pain 142
What other investigations may be needed? 142
How can vulval pain be managed? 143
Management options in primary care 143
Referral to secondary care 143
How is vulvodynia managed? 143
Drug based treatments 143
Psychological and psychosexual therapy 144
Surgery 145
Chronic pelvic pain in women 146
What is chronic pelvic pain and who gets it? 146
What are the personal and societal costs of chronic pelvic pain? 146
How is chronic pelvic pain diagnosed? 146
What is the initial therapeutic approach for chronic pelvic pain? 147
What are the recommendations from clinical guidelines? 149
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