M.Sc. (N) OBG Nursing Tutor, MBNC • Normal labour is characterized by coordinated uterine contractions associated with progressive dilation of cervix and descent of fetal head. • Associated with cervical dilatation ≥ 1 cm /hr in Nulliparous woman • Likely to end in successful vaginal delievery. Normal Uterine Contractions:- Polarity of Uterus When the upper segment contracts, the lower segment relaxes Pacemakers There are two pacemakers situated at each cornua of the uterus Generates uterine contractions in a coordinated fashion Properties of Normal Uterine Contractions:- The intensity of contraction diminishes from top to bottom of the uterus The contraction waves starts of the pacemaker and propogates towards the lower uterine segment The duration of contraction diminishes progressively as the wave moves away from the pacemaker In dysfunctional labor, new pacemaker may come up anywhere in the uterus DEFINITION:- “Any deviation of the normal pattern of uterine contractions affecting the course of labour is designated as disordered or abnormal uterine action.” Effective Uterine Contractions strats at the cornua and gradually sweeps downwards over the uterus. In Primary Dysfunctional Labor, Uterine Activity instead of being governed by a single dominant pacemaker, is shifted to less efficient contractions due to emergence of other pacemaker foci. Oxytocin therapy may be effective in restoring the global and effective uterine contractions. Primary Dysfunctional Labor, is defined when the cervix dilates < 1cm/hr following a normal latent phase of labor. Commonest abnormality Mostly corrected by, Amniotomy or/and Oxytocin Augmentation Secondary Arrest, is defined when the cervical dilatation stops or slows after the active phase of labour has started normally. Uterine activity is measures by noting... Basal tone Active (peak) pressure Frequency Assesment is usually done by... Clinical Palpation (inaccurate) Tocodynamometer with external transducer Using intrauterine pressure catheter (accurate) Normal baseline tonus is between 5 and 20 mm of Hg and peak pressure is around 60 mm of Hg INCEDENCE:- 25 % in Nulliparous Women 10 % in Multiparous Women ETIOLOGY:- Unknown Prevalent in first birth specially with elderly women Prolonged Pregnancy Overdistension of uterus ( twins & fibroids Emotional factor ( anxiety, stress) Constitutional labor ( obesity) Contracted pelvis & malpresentation Injudicious administration of sedatives, analgesics & oxytocics Premature attempt of VD & instrumental VD TYPES:- Abnormal Polarity
Ineffective Uterine Contraction
UTERINE INERTIA / HYPOTONIC UTERINE CONTRACTION • Common but comparatively less serious • May complecate at any stage of labour • May be present from beginning of labour or develop subsequently after a variable period of effective contraction Uterine Contractions... The intensity is diminished Duration is shortened Good relaxation inbetween contractions Intervals are increased
General pattern of uterine contractions of
labor is maintained but intrauterine pressure during contraction is below 25 mm of Hg. Diagnosis... Patient feels less pain during contraction Hand placed over the uterus during uterine contraction reveals less hardening of the uterus Uterine wall is easily indentable at the acme of a pain Uterus remains relaxed after contraction Fetal parts are well palpable Fetal heart rate remains normal Internal Examination reveals... Poor dilation of the cervix Associated presence of contracted pelvis, malposition, deflexed head or malpresentation Membranes usually remains intact
Effects on mother and fetus...
Maternal Exhaustion Fetal Distress , are unusual and appear late. Management... Case is reassessed to exclude CPD or Malpresentation
Place of Cesarean Section...
Presence of Contracted Pelvis Malpresentation Evidences of fetal or maternal distress Vaginal Delivery... Genral Measures:- Keep up the morale of patient Manage maternal stress and emotion Avoid supine position Empty the bladder ( catheterization) Maintain hydration by infusion of Ringer's solution Adequate pain relief Vaginal Delivery... Active Measures:- Acceleration of uterine contraction by low rupture of the membrane followed by oxytocin drip The drip rate is gradually increased until effective contractions are set up The drip is to be continued till one hour after delivery INCOORDINATE UTERINE CONTRACTION • Usually appears in active stage of labour. • The hypertonic state of the uterus arises from any of the conditions such as spastic lower uterine segment, colicky uterus, asymmentrical uterine contraction, contriction ring or generalized tonic contraction of the uterus and all thes states are collectively called incoordinate uterine contraction. • Increased frequency and or duration of uterine contractions cause rise in baseline tone and thereby diminish circulation in the placental intervillous space. • New pacemakers appear all over the uterus. • The myometrium contracts spasmodically and irregularly. • These contractions force neither dilates the cervix nor pushes the fetus down. • Uterine tonus is elevated. • Pain is present before, during and after contraction. • This results in fetal hypoxia in labour. • Placental abruption is often associated with high baseline tone ( >25 mm Hg ). • On cardiotocography (CTG) the FHR shows reduced variability and late decelerations. • Uterine hyperstimulation due to oxytocics are often associated with fetal tachycardia due to fetal stress. • Constriction ring, generalized tonic uterine contraction and cervical dystocia have got their own separate clinical entity and as such will be discussed separately. SPASTIC LOWER SEGMENT Uterine Contractions... Fundal dominance is lacking and often there is reversed polarity The pacemakers do not work in rhythm The lower segment contractions are stronger Inadequate relaxation in between contractions Basal tone is raised above the critical level of 20 mm Hg Diagnosis... The patient is in agony with unbearable pain reffered to the back There are evidences of dehydration and ketoacidosis Bladder is frequently distended and often there is retention of urine, distension of stomach and bowels are visible There are premature attemps of bear down Abdominal palpation reveals: a)Uterus is tender and gentle manipulation excites hardening of the uterus with pain b)Palpation of the fetal parts is difficult Internal examination may reveal : a) Cervix with thick, edematous hangs loosely like a curtain, not well appliedto the presenting part b) Inappropriate dilation of the cervix c) Absence of mebranes d) Meconium stained liquor amnii may ne there Effect on the fetus... Fetal distress appears early due to placental insuffiency caused by inadequate relaxation of the uterus Management... There is no place of oxytocin augmentation with this abnormality Cesarean section is done in majority of cases Prior correction of dehydration and ketoacidosis must be achieved by rapid infusion of Ringer's solution CONSTRICTION RING (Syn. Contraction ring/ Schroeder's ring) It is one one form of incoordinate uterine action where there is localized myomatrial contraction forming a ring of circular muscle fibres of the uterus It is usually situated at the junction of the upper and lower segment around a constricted part of the fetus usually around the neck in cephalic presentation It may appear in all the stages of labour It is usually reversible and complete Causes... Injudicious administration of oxytocics Premature rupture of the membranes Premature attempt at instrumental delivery Diagnosis... Difficult Revealed during cesarean section in the first stage of labour, during forcep application in second stageand during manual removal in the third stage The ring is not felt per abdomen
Maternal condition is not much affected but
the fetus is in jeopardy because of the hypertonic state Uterus never ruptures Treatment... Delivery is usually done by cesarean section The ring usually passes off ny deepening the plane of anesthesia, otherwise the ring may to be cut vertically to deliver the baby The difficlties faced during forceps delivery or during normal removal of placenta can be overcome by using deep anesthesia that relaxes the constriction ring CERVICAL DYSTOCIA Progressive cervical dilatation needs an effective stretching force by the preseting force by presenting part Failure of cervical dilatation may be due to : a) Insufficient uterine contractions b) Malpresentation, Malposition (abnormal relationship between the cervix and the presenting part) Cervical dytocia may be primary or secondary Primary cervical dystocia... Commonly observed during the... i. First birth where the external os fails to dilate ii. Rigid cervix iii. Insufficient uterine contractions iv. others Treatment... In presence of associated complications (malpresentation, malposition) cesarean section is preferred If the head is sufficiently low down with only thin rim of cervix left behind, the rim may be pushed up manually during contraction or retraction is given by ventouse In others where the cervix is very much thinned out but only half dilated, Duhrssen's incision at 2 and 10 O'clock positions followed by forceps or ventouse extraction is quite safe and effective Secondary cervical dystocia... This type of cervical dystocia results usually due to excess scarring or rigidity of the cervix from the effect of previous operation or disease Others are: i. Post delivery ii. Postoperative scarring iii. Cervical cancer GENERALIZED TONIC CONTRACTION (Syn. Uterinr Tetany) In this condition, pronounced retraction occurs involving whole of the uterus up to the level of internal os Thus, there is no physiological differentiation of the active upper segment and the passive lower segment of the uterus The whole uterus undergoes a sort of tonic muscular spasm holding the fetus inside (active retention of the fetus) Usually there is no risk of rupture uterus New pacemaker appear all over the uterus Causes... Cephalopelvic disproportion Obstruction Injudicious use of oxytocics Clinical features... The patient is in prolonged labour, having severe and continuous pain Abdominal examination reveals the uterus to be somewhat smaller in size, tense and tender Fetal parts are neither well defined, nor is the fetal heart sound audible Vaginal examination reveals jammed head with big caput, dry and adematous vagina Treatment... Correction of dehydration and ketoacidosis by rapid infusion of Ringer's solution Antibiotic Adequate pain relief Hypercontractility (tachysystole) induced by oxytocics can be managed by tocolytics. Oxytocin infusion should be stopped esarean delivery is done in majority of the cases specially when obstruction is suspected PRECIPITATE LABOUR “ A labour is called precipitate when the combined duration of the first and second stage is less than two hours” It is common in multiparae and be repetitive Rapid expulsion is due to the combined effect of hyperactive uterine contractions associated with diminished soft tissue resistance Labour is short as rate of cervical dilatatiion is 5 cm/hour or more in nulliparous women Maternal risk... 1. Extensive laceration of the cervix, vagina and perineum 2. PPH due to uterine hypotonia that develops subsequent to unusual vigorous contractions 3. Inversion 4. Uterine rupture 5. Infection 6. Amniotic fluid ambolism Fetal risk... 1. Intracranial stress and hemorrhage because of rapid expulsion without time for moulding of the head 2. The baby may sustain serious injuries if delivery occurs in standing position, bleeding from the torn cord and direct hit on the skull are real hazards Treatment... The patient having previous hystory of precipitate labour should be hospitalized prior to labour During labour, the uterine contraction may be suppressed by administering ether or magnesium sulfate during contractions Delivery of the head should be controlled Episiotomy should be done liberally Elective induction of labour by low rupture of membranes and conduction of controlled delivery is helpful Oxytocin augmentation should be avoided TONIC UTERINE CONTRACTION AND RETRACTION (Syn. Bandal's ring / pathological retraction ring) This type of uterine contraction is predominantly due to obstructed labour
Pathological anatomy of uterus...
There is gradual increase in intensity, duration and frequency of uterine contraction The relaxation phase becomes less and less, ultimately a state of tonic contraction develops Retraction, however, continues The lower segment elongates and becomes progressively thinner to accomodate the fetus driven from the upper segment “ A circular groove encicling the uterus is formed between the active upper segment and the distended lower segment, called pathological retraction ring (Bandal's ring)” Due to pronounced retraction, there is fetal jeopardy or even death In primigravidae, further retraction ceases in response to obstruction and labor comes to a stand still a state of uterine exhaustion Contractions may recommence after a brief of rest with renewed vigour But in multipare, retraction continues with progressive circumferential dilatation and thinning of the lower segment There is progressive rise of the Bandal's ring, moving nearer and nearer to the umbilicus and ultimately, the lower segement ruptures Clinical features... 1. Patient is in agony from continuous pain and discomfort and becomes restlessness 2. Features of exhaustion and ketoacidosis are evident 3. Abdominal palpation reveals: •Upper segment is harder and tender •Lower segment is distended and tender Management... Prevention:- –Partographic management of labour, early diagnosis of malpresentation, disproportion and delivery by cesarean section can prevent this condition completely Treatment... Rupture of the uterus is to be excluded Internal version is contraindicated Correction of dehydration and ketoacidosis by infusion of Ringer's solution Adequate pain relief Parenteral antibiotic ( Cefriaxone 1 g IV ) Cesarean delivery is done in majority of the cases Rupture of the uterus must be excluded before attempting destructive operation