Today’s Quiz 14/2/22

A dose of 250 IU anti-D immunoglobulin should be sufficient to cover up to five adult therapeutic doses of D positive platelets given within a 6-week period.

In severely thrombocytopenic patients with platelet count of?30 × 10^9/L, anti-D Ig should be given subcutaneously, or IV.

Antenatal treatment for vaginal or rectal colonisation does not reduce the likelihood of GBS colonisation at the time of delivery and so is not indicated in this situation.

IAP should be offered to GBS-colonised women

Routine ultrasound screening is not useful. Selective ultrasound screening can be considered for women with breech presentation at term who are considering vaginal birth.

• IAP( Intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis)  is recommended for women in confirmed preterm labour.  The risk of GBS infection is higher with preterm delivery and the mortality rate from infection is increased (20–30% versus 2–3% at term). For this reason, IAP is recommended for women in confirmed preterm labour.
• There is no evidence that intrapartum vaginal cleansing will reduce the risk of neonatal GBS disease.
• Polymerase chain reaction or other near-patient testing at the onset of labour is not recommended.

The six elements considered to be reflective of good care are:
 Consultant obstetrician planning and directly supervising delivery.
 Consultant anaesthetist planning and directly supervising anaesthesia at delivery.
 Blood and blood products available.
 Multidisciplinary involvement in preoperative planning.
 Discussion and consent, including possible interventions (such as hysterectomy, leaving the placenta in situ, cell
salvage and interventional radiology).
 Local availability of a level 2 critical care bed.

According to the RCOG- Any lack of compliance with the care bundle by the clinical team for a woman with either placenta praevia or accreta
should be investigated.

According to MBBRACE-UK 2014 to 2016- Women who have had a previous caesarean section who also have either placenta praevia or an anterior placenta underlying the old caesarean section scar at 32 weeks of gestation are at increased risk of placenta accreta and should be managed as if they have placenta accreta, with appropriate preparations for surgery made.

The RAADP scheme should be regarded as supplementary to any anti-D Ig administered for sensitising episodes.

- For pregnancies at more than 16 weeks of gestation the term low-lying placenta should be used when the placental edge is less than 20 mm from the internal os on transabdominal or transvaginal scanning (TVS).

If the distance between the internal os and the placental edge is 20 mm or more on TVS, the placental location should be recorded as normal and managed as per routine

• The term placenta praevia should be used when the placenta lies directly over the internal os.

It is not necessary to administer anti-D Ig to D negative females without childbearing potential, or males who receive D positive platelets.

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- For pregnancies at more than 16 weeks of gestation the term low-lying placenta should be used when the placental edge is less than 20 mm from the internal os on transabdominal or transvaginal scanning (TVS).

• The term placenta praevia should be used when the placenta lies directly over the internal os.

The algorithm suggested by RCOG for low lying placenta can be accessed HERE 

It should be done at 32–34 weeks of gestation for women with twins.

The recommended time of testing is 3–5 weeks prior to the anticipated delivery date- therefore  35–37 weeks of gestation in singleton pregnancies with no risk factors for preterm delivery.

When testing for GBS carrier status, a swab should be taken from the lower vagina and the anorectum.

A single swab (vagina then anorectum) or two different swabs can be used.

Methotrexate adjuvant therapy should not be used for expectant management as it is of unproven benefit and has significant adverse effects.

In pregnancies<12 weeks gestation, anti-D Ig prophylaxis is only indicated following ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, therapeutic termination of pregnancy and in
cases of uterine bleeding where this is repeated, heavy
or associated with abdominal pain. The minimum dose should be 250 IU. A test for fetomaternal haemorrhage (FMH) is not required

Bonus info- There is at least one more condition in which the delivery should be delayed for some time after appearance of the condition- Chickenpox ! In varicella rash- planned delivery should normally be avoided for at least 7 days after the onset of the maternal rash to allow for the passive transfer of antibodies from mother to child.