Pregnant and postpartum admissions to ICU are usually short with most lengths of stay less than 24 hours. There is a vast variation in the threshold for admission to ICU with one European study of severe maternal morbidity reporting ICU admission proportions of between 0 and 50% across different regions.⁵ Additionally there are many women who, when admitted to ICU, do not receive any notable specific ICU intervention (Table 26.1) and the need for ICU admission for these women has been questioned.⁶ In general, about a third of women who experience severe maternal morbidity are admitted to ICU.⁷ It is feasible that admission to ICU is preventable by upskilling midwifery services⁶ and by early identification of severe illness resulting in prompt and appropriate treatment.^6,^8,⁹ There has been limited study of the long term outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women admitted to ICU in relation to their ongoing health and wellbeing, partner relationship and infant bonding. In developed countries like Australia, the mortality of pregnant and postpartum women admitted to ICU is relatively low at around 3% compared to the 15% mortality observed in the regular ICU population.³

TABLE 26.1 ICU interventions required by pregnant and postpartum women in ICU

Practice tip

Any maternal death, death of a woman during pregnancy or within 42 days of having been pregnant, should be reported to the relevant state authority in Australia and to the Perinatal and Maternal Mortality Review Committee in New Zealand, even if the pregnancy is not thought to have contributed to the cause of death.

Adapted Physiology of Pregnancy

Conception results in extensive physiological adaptations across most body systems (Table 26.2). The physiological adaptations most relevant to critical care nursing include cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal and coagulation and the role of the placenta as the maternal–fetal interface. The uterus and breasts obviously undergo major change in pregnancy and any basic midwifery or obstetric textbook, such as Myles’ Textbook for Midwives or Midwifery: preparation for practice will describe these in detail.^11,¹² The physiological adaptations described in this chapter refer to a singleton pregnancy only, as women with a multiple pregnancy (i.e. twins) may undergo further changes.¹³ The physiological changes described refer to a non-labouring pregnant woman. Labour induces further changes to physiology, such as increased cardiac output.¹⁴

TABLE 26.2 Key physiological changes in pregnancy

Parameter	Change during pregnancy
Cardiovascular system:
Heart rate	↑ 10–15 beats/min
Blood pressure
Systolic	↓ 5–9 mmHg
Diastolic	↓ 6–17 mmHg
Cardiac output	↑ 30–50%
Systemic vascular resistance	↓ up to 35%
Central arterial and venous pressures	Unchanged
Blood and associated components:
Blood volume	↑ 40–50%
Plasma volume	↑ 40–50%
Red blood cells	↑ 20–40%
White blood cells	↑ 100–300%
Platelets	Unchanged
Fibrinogen	↑ 100%
Serum albumin level	↓ 10–15%
Respiratory system
Respiratory rate	Unchanged
Tidal volume	↑ 25–40%
Minute volume	↑ 40–50%
Oxygen consumption	↑ 15–20%
Arterial blood gas analysis values
PaO₂	80–110 mmHg
PaCO₂	28–32 mmHg
pH	7.40–7.45
HCO₃⁻	18–21
SaO₂	≥95%
Vital capacity	Unchanged
Functional reserve capacity	↓ 17–20%
Airway compliance and resistance	Unchanged
Renal system
Glomerular filtration rate	↑ 40–50%
Serum urea and creatinine	↓ Unknown
Urine output	<300mg/day
Proteinuria

The puerperium, also referred to as the postpartum or postnatal period, is the 6 weeks following the end of pregnancy during which time the woman’s body returns to the pre-pregnant state. The physiology of the puerperium is outlined below for the major body systems, with content specific to the uterus and breasts covered later in the section on postnatal assessment and lactation. Our knowledge of the timing and completeness of the reversal of the physiological adaptations in pregnancy is incomplete. Delivery of the placenta results in an abrupt reduction in all the placental hormonal levels, such as progesterone and oestrogens, and thus begins the physiological process for returning the woman’s body to the non-pregnant state.

Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system undergoes a series of anatomical and physiological changes during pregnancy to support both the mother and fetus during this period.

Anatomical Changes

The heart undergoes anatomical change during pregnancy including left ventricular hypertrophy and the cross-sectional areas of the aortic, pulmonary and mitral valves increase by 12–14%. ECG changes include non-specific ST segment changes, the development of a Q wave in Lead III and a left-axis deviation pattern.¹⁵ These are evident by the end of the first trimester and remain throughout the pregnancy.¹⁶ As with the interpretation of any ECG, consider other information like the patient presentation (signs and symptoms) and blood test results to form a complete assessment of the woman’s condition.

Blood Volume

Very early in the pregnancy there is generalised vasodilatation resulting in sodium and water retention. The causes of the vasodilatation are likely to include hormonal factors (e.g. progesterone), peripheral vasodilators like nitric oxide, and potentially, an as-yet unidentified pregnancy-specific vasodilatory substance.¹⁷ The end result is a 40–50% increase in blood volume as well as reduced normal serum sodium level, from 140 to 136 mmol/L and a reduced plasma osmolality from 290 to 280 mosmol/kg. These changes persist throughout pregnancy and the osmoreceptor system resets to accept these values as normal.¹⁸

The red cell mass increases 20–40% whilst the plasma volume increases 40–50%. The resultant physiological haemodilution produces a relative anaemia which is thought to be beneficial for utero-placental perfusion. Venous haematocrit typically falls from a non-pregnant value of 40% to 34% near term.¹⁹ The increase in blood volume is evident from seven weeks’ gestation and peaks at around 30–32 weeks’ gestation, normally remaining at a stable level until delivery.^17,²⁰ Women who do not experience this normal increase in blood volume are more prone to adverse outcomes such as preeclampsia or small- for-gestational-age infant.²¹ The additional blood volume is also thought to accommodate the normal blood loss associated with birth (<500 mL). Pregnant women are renowned for being able to maintain stable vital signs, with blood losses as much as 1500 mL, before acutely deteriorating.

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure reduces in pregnancy, with the lowest normal blood pressure recorded during the second trimester (16–28 weeks), and returns to pre-pregnancy levels near term (see Table 26.2). Blood pressure begins dropping as early as 8 weeks’ gestation, in association with the generalised vasodilatation occurring at this time. If a woman does not experience the characteristic lowering of blood pressure, particularly during the second trimester, it is viewed with suspicion and as a potentially abnormal sign.

Heart Rate, Stroke Volume and Cardiac Output

Maternal heart rate increases by 10–15 beats per minute during pregnancy with an increase noted as early as 5 weeks’ gestation.^16,²² The increase in heart rate may be a compensatory response related to the generalised vasodilatation, although a hormone-related effect cannot be ruled out.²³ Tachycardia (>100 beats/min) is an abnormal sign and warrants further investigation.²⁴ The stroke volume is noted to increase between 18 and 32%, beginning as early as 8 weeks’ gestation.^25,²⁶ An increase in cardiac output is detectable from 5 weeks gestation and continues to be 30–50% higher by 32 weeks gestation.^17,²⁶ Hence, a normal cardiac output in pregnancy may be as high as 8 L/min. The increased cardiac output is achieved by a combination of the increases in heart rate and stroke volume.

Systemic Vascular Resistance

The generalised vasodilatation observed in early pregnancy reduces systemic vascular resistance by up to 35%, with some reduction already detectable by 8 weeks’ gestation.²⁷ The development of the low-resistance utero-placental junction was thought to act as an arteriovenous shunt and contribute to the lowered SVR seen in pregnancy. However, the very-early-observed decrease in SVR argues against this theory and perhaps circulating substances that exert a vasodilatory effect on the vasculature is a more likely proposition.

Effect of Posture on Maternal Haemodynamics

It is evident that from as early as 5–8 weeks’ gestation, pregnancy is characterised by general vasodilatation, increased blood volume, increased cardiac output and is generally a hyperdynamic state. As the pregnancy advances, the bulk of the uterus begins to have an impact on maternal haemodynamics. After 20 weeks’ gestation, a woman lying flat on her back may experience supine hypotension, secondary to compression of the inferior vena cava and aorta with subsequent reduction in venous return, cardiac output and placental flow. A reduction in placental flow may occur even without a recorded drop in blood pressure. Consequently, it is inadvisable to nurse a pregnant woman more than 20 weeks’ gestation, flat on her back. A left lateral lying position results in the best cardiac output, although manually displacing the uterus to the left whilst the woman remains supine is also effective in relieving the aorto-caval compression.²⁸ Otherwise, the use of a wedge or pillows to maintain a left lateral tilt of at least 15 degrees is recommended to minimise aorto-caval compression.²⁹

Postpartum Cardiovascular Changes

Heart rate returns to pre-pregnancy levels by 10 days postpartum; blood pressure has normally returned to pre-pregnancy levels by term and does not change during the puerperium.^23,²⁷ The first few days of the puerperium are associated with a diuresis which reduces the circulating volume and results in haemoconcentration of blood. Consequently a postpartum haemoglobin level will increase over the first few days and the risk of thromboembolism is higher during the postpartum period than during pregnancy. Due care should be paid to postpartum women in ICU to prevent deep vein thrombosis, particularly as many of these women are in ICU with complications of preeclampsia or severe obstetric haemorrhage, both of which further increase the likelihood of thromboembolism.³⁰

Cardiac output increases briefly in the immediate postpartum period to compensate for blood losses and tends to increase by 50% of the pre-delivery value, at this point in the post partum phase stroke volume is increased while the maternal heart rate is often slowed.²³ For most women, the immediate postpartum elevation in cardiac output only lasts for an hour or so. By 2 weeks postpartum, many haemodynamic parameters have returned to pre-pregnancy levels for the majority of women, although some have been recorded as remaining above pre-pregnancy levels at 12 months postpartum, including cardiac output.^14,²⁷ There is increasing acknowledgement that for many women following childbirth, there is a permanent modification to the cardiovascular system, although whether this persists into the menopausal era is not known and whether it impacts on cardiovascular disease risk is also unknown.²⁷

Respiratory System

Changes to the Upper Airways and Thorax

Normal physiological changes of pregnancy include generalised vasodilatation of the upper airway vasculature, increased fat deposition around the neck and an increase in mucosal oedema. A combination of hormonal influences, likely progesterone and oestrogen, are at play. These physiological changes are thought to be responsible for the symptoms of rhinitis, nasal stuffiness and epistaxis that are common in pregnancy.¹⁷

Changes also occur to the chest wall with relaxation of ligaments resulting in an outwards flaring of the lower ribs and a 50% increase in the subcostal angle.³¹ Both the diameter and the circumference of the thorax increase by 2 cm and 5–7 cm respectively.^31,³² These physical changes are thought to cause the diaphragm to rise by 5 cm, with this occurring early in pregnancy and well before there is any pressure from the advancing uterus.³² Respiratory muscle function does not change significantly during pregnancy and rib cage compliance is unaltered.³¹ The functional reserve capacity (the amount of air left in the lungs after expiration) is reduced 17–20% making the pregnant woman more vulnerable to hypoxaemia during any apnoeic period. Chest X-ray interpretation is unchanged during pregnancy, despite the variety of changes to cardiovascular and respiratory flows.²³

Changes to the Physiology of Breathing

From as early as 5 weeks’ gestation, multiple factors result in an increased respiratory drive. The increase in progesterone levels is thought to lower the PaCO₂ threshold in the respiratory centre to stimulate respiration resulting in hyperventilation.¹⁵ Other related factors include an oestrogen-mediated progesterone response, lower serum osmolality, strong ion difference and increased level of wakefulness that are also present in pregnancy.³³^–³⁵ Increased minute ventilation begins soon after conception and peaks at 40–50% at term.¹⁵ The increase in minute ventilation is achieved by a 30–50% increase in tidal volume (e.g. an increase of 200 ± 50 mL at term), with no increase in respiratory rate.¹⁵

Due to the altered respiratory function, normal arterial blood gas values are different in pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant values (see Table 26.2). The reduced PaCO₂ level creates the necessary gradient for the fetal CO₂ to passively cross the placenta for maternal excretion. PaO₂ normally increases by 10 mmHg, although the PaO₂ level is affected by posture, particularly as the pregnancy progresses.³⁶ In advanced pregnancy, the supine position is associated with a reduction in PaO₂ of up to 10 mmHg when compared with the same woman in the sitting position.³⁷ The kidneys compensate for the lowered PaCO₂ by increasing bicarbonate excretion, which serves to maintain a normal pH.^36,^38,³⁹ Normal oxygen saturation in pregnancy has not been well investigated, however, it is likely to be 97–100% at sea level, with a healthy pregnant woman’s saturation not dropping below 95% during moderate exercise.^40,⁴¹

The notable hyperventilation of pregnancy is associated with a feeling of breathlessness in up to 75% of healthy pregnant women when attending to activities of daily living.³³ Distinguishing what is considered ‘physiological dyspnoea’ from pathological dyspnoea, for example developing cardiomyopathy, can present a challenge in pregnancy. Dyspnoea at rest is usually an abnormal sign in pregnancy.⁴²

Postpartum Respiratory Changes

There is complete resolution of the spirometry and arterial blood gas changes by 5 weeks postpartum.³⁶ Unfortunately there has been no study reporting the daily transition of these parameters over the first week postpartum – the timing when a postpartum woman is likely to be in ICU. One very old study reported that CO₂ levels took between two and five days to return to normal non-pregnant values postpartum.⁴³ Regardless, with the fetus delivered, it is probable that no harm will be done to a woman by the titration of her ventilation requirements according to non-pregnant conventions and arterial blood gas values.

Renal System

All smooth muscle dilates in early pregnancy, most likely in response to progesterone. This includes the renal tract, involving the renal pelvis, calyces, ureters and urethra. The placental hormone, relaxin, has also been shown to have an effect on renal tract dilatation.⁴⁴ Each kidney lengthens by about 1 cm, which is explained by the dilatation and associated mild hydronephrosis and increased vascularity of the kidneys, with no hypertrophy of renal tissue.¹⁷ Another effect of widespread dilatation is urinary stasis and an increased likelihood of urinary tract infection. Acute pyelonephritis is one of the most common renal complications of pregnancy and is associated with the onset of preterm labour.⁴⁵

The kidneys receive a proportion of the additional cardiac output resulting in a 30% increase in renal blood flow. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increases 40–50% during the first trimester and then reduces slightly towards the end of the third trimester.¹⁸ The increase in GFR may result in the tubule active transport systems for both glucose and proteins to be exhausted, with both glycosuria and proteinuria common in pregnancy. Glycosuria is not related to blood sugar levels and is unhelpful in monitoring diabetes. Proteinuria, up to 300 mg per 24 hours, is considered normal in pregnancy. Conversely, the high GFR results in lowered serum levels of both urea and creatinine. A plasma urea level exceeding 4.5 mmol/L and plasma creatinine level higher than 75 µmol/L, should be viewed as abnormal and indicative of potential renal impairment.^18,⁴⁶ There is conflicting information regarding normal urine output during pregnancy, with some studies suggesting no difference to that during non-pregnancy and others reporting an increase in 24-hour urine volume after 12 weeks’ gestation.^45,⁴⁷

Postpartum Renal Changes

The most significant renal change is the diuresis that occurs in the 1–3 days postpartum. This diuresis serves to offload the additional blood volume that the woman has had circulating for the duration of the pregnancy. There has been little examination of ‘normal urine output’ with the standard 0.5 mL/kg/hr reported as a minimum acceptable level, however a true ‘normal’ level is likely to be closer to 0.8 mL/kg/hr.⁴⁸ Creatinine levels are within the normal non-pregnancy range within 24 hours postpartum, whilst the lower urea levels remain for at least 48 hours.⁴⁶ The bladder returns to the pelvis in the early postpartum period as the uterus and other organs resume their pre-pregnancy position.

Gastrointestinal System And Liver

The uterus pushes abdominal organs aside as it advances making assessment and diagnosis of an acute abdomen difficult. For example, the appendix is progressively displaced upwards and laterally from McBurney’s point at the third month, reaching the level of the iliac crest by late pregnancy.⁴⁹ The bowel and other organs are generally displaced by the enlarging uterus; women with prior abdominal surgery and adhesions are predisposed to intestinal obstruction as a result.⁵⁰ Additionally, there is an increase in intraabdominal pressure which may contribute to another common pregnancy symptom, heartburn.

Generalised smooth muscle vasodilatation occurs throughout the gastrointestinal tract including sphincters. Thus there is delayed stomach emptying and a lax cardiac sphincter leading to an increased likelihood of aspiration. The bowel has slowed peristalsis resulting in constipation, common in many pregnant women. The vasodilatation of blood vessels in combination with constipation increases the incidence of haemorrhoids during pregnancy.

Hepatobiliary Changes in Pregnancy

There is no significant increase in hepatic arterial blood flow during pregnancy, despite the 40–50% increased cardiac output.⁵¹ There is, however, a doubling of bloodflow to the liver supplied by the portal vein,⁵¹ which may have an impact on oral medication metabolism in the liver. There are also changes in other hepatic enzymes responsible for drug metabolism, resulting in a change in pharmacokinetics of some medications, e.g. higher plasma levels of midazolam. Serum albumin levels reduce to 30–40 g/L for the majority of pregnancy, with levels as low as 25 g/L normal during the second postpartum week.⁴⁶ This low albumin level reduces colloid osmotic pressure that contributes to the dependent oedema, for example swollen ankles, that is common in pregnancy.

The general smooth muscle vasodilatation affects the hepatobiliary ducts, resulting in sluggish bile motility and delayed emptying of the gall bladder. These changes lead to an increased incidence of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis during pregnancy.

Haemostasis System

During pregnancy, the woman’s body prepares for the separation of the placenta, a time of potential large blood loss. The blood flow to the placental bed at term is in the range of 600–800 mL/min. Both elements of the haemostasis system are activated during pregnancy (coagulation and fibrinolysis), with pregnancy and particularly the postpartum period associated with an increased risk of thrombus formation. Thromboembolic events remain a leading cause of maternal death in developed countries.^24,⁵² A number of changes to the haemostatic system occur during pregnancy (Table 26.3).

TABLE 26.3 Haemostatic changes during pregnancy ⁵⁶^–⁵⁸

Haemostatic component	Changes during pregnancy
Platelets:
Count Function and lifespan	UnchangedUnchanged
Clotting factors:
Factors VII, VIII & IX Fibrinogen Other clotting factors	IncreasedDoubles by termMainly unchanged
Fibrinolysis:
D-Dimer level	Progressively increases throughout pregnancy By term, level >0.5 mg/L common

Of note, gestational thrombocytopenia – a platelet level between 80–150 × 10⁹/L – occurs in 6–8 % of women.^53,⁵⁴ It generally has no negative impact on the woman or fetus at these levels, as there is no pathology associated with the low platelet count.⁵⁵

Changes In White Blood Cells And The Immune System

There is continued debate on whether the pregnant state increases vulnerability to infection, secondary to some protective mechanism that prevents the woman’s body from reacting to the fetus as a foreign body.¹⁷ Pregnant women have increased innate immune system activity (non-specific response) and a lowered adaptive immune system (specific antibody response), with pregnant women more vulnerable to some infections like malaria and varicella.^17,^59,⁶⁰ Pregnant women are often in contact with small children and potentially have an increased exposure to various infections. The white blood cell number increases throughout pregnancy, peaking around delivery when a normal level may be as high as 25 × 10⁹/L.⁴⁶

The Maternal–Fetal Interface

The junction of the maternal and fetal circulations is referred to as the maternal–fetal interface. Although, under normal circumstances the circulations remain separated by layers of cells, the maternal–fetal interface is where the maternal and fetal systems interact.

Placenta

The placenta develops from the trophoblastic layer of the fertilised ovum and is completely formed and functioning ten weeks following fertilisation.⁶¹ The chorionic villi constitute the undersurface of the placenta and attach to the uterine wall via the decidua. The end result is an interface whereby maternal blood fills a space in which the nutritive villi float and are bathed in the maternal blood (Figure 26.1). A few villi are more deeply anchored in the decidua and these are referred to as anchoring villi.⁶¹ The blood drains back into the maternal circulation via maternal sinuses and the endometrial veins. Approximately 150 mL of maternal blood, replenished three to four times per minute, bathes the villi in the intervillous space.⁶¹ The chorionic villi maximise the available surface area to optimise the exchange of products across the maternal–placental interface. By term, this surface area is said to be as large as 13 m².⁶² Initially, four layers of cells separate the maternal blood from the fetal blood, reducing to three after 20 weeks’ gestation; these cell layers are collectively referred to as the ‘placental membrane’ or ‘placental barrier’.⁶³ Damage to villi, such as a threatened abortion or blunt trauma, may result in mixing of the blood circulations.

FIGURE 26.1 The maternal–placental interface.¹¹

Role of the Placenta

The placenta provides six major functions to sustain the pregnancy and fetus: respiration, nutrition, storage, excretion, protection and endocrine.⁶¹ Fetal lungs are filled with fluid and all oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide must be provided via the placenta. Fetal haemoglobin has a slightly different structure to adult haemoglobin and has a higher affininity for oxygen. Both oxygen and carbon dioxide cross the placental membrane by simple diffusion. Nutrients are actively transported across the placental membrane, with the placenta able to select the substances needed by the fetus, even at the expense of the mother if necessary.⁶¹ The placenta is able to store glucose by converting it to glycogen and reconverting it to glucose as required and is also able to store iron and some fat-soluble vitamins.

The placental membrane operates as a barrier between the maternal and fetal circulations and provides a limited protective function. Generally, few bacteria can cross the placenta, although viruses are able to cross fairly readily. The placenta produces large volumes of hormones including progesterone, oestrogens, placental lactogen, chorionic gonadotropin, growth factors, cytokine vasoactive substances, placental growth hormone, thyrotropin and corticotropin. The placenta does not have a nerve supply so all activities regulated by the placenta must be undertaken by other mechanisms, e.g. chemical, hormonal changes.

A full and comprehensive understanding of the placenta remains elusive. We do know that the placenta is a highly complex organ with the ability to modulate a variety of metabolic effects in both the woman and the fetus. Disorders of the placenta are thought to be a major contributor to preeclampsia and small-for-gestational-age neonates.

Impact of Impaired Utero–placental Gas Exchange

Effective gas exchange across the placental membrane depends on sufficient maternal blood pressure and adequate O₂ and CO₂ gradients for passive diffusion to occur. In response to hypoxaemia, a fetal brain-sparing mechanism goes into effect that increases fetal arterial pressure and redirects blood delivery to the main organs, namely the brain, heart and adrenal glands.⁶⁴ This centralisation of fetal blood flow is more apparent in response to maternal hypoxaemia than to reduced utero–placental blood flow. It appears that a less mature fetus (i.e. earlier gestation) may be less susceptible to asphyxia than a fetus at term.⁶⁴

Whether the fetus will die in utero or survive, and the degree of any neurological compromise, depends on the degree and duration of asphyxia, the recurrent nature of asphyxia, and the degree to which the fetus is able to compensate for the asphyxia. Antenatal asphyxia (asphyxia during pregnancy, not associated with labour) has been linked to the development of cerebral palsy, behaviour disorders and learning difficulties. The reasons and extent of individual variation in fetal outcome are unknown.

Clinical Implications Of The Physiological Adaptations Of Pregnancy

The beginning point of any nursing practice is an understanding of normal anatomy and physiology. The normal physiological adaptations of pregnancy can be used to explain the so-called ‘minor discomforts’ of pregnancy, including constipation, varicose veins, indigestion, breathlessness and fatigue. For a critically ill pregnant woman being nursed in ICU, these normal physiological changes are also highly relevant for her care. ICU nurses need to accommodate for, and take into account, the likely impact of the normal physiology of pregnancy on common ICU monitoring, interventions and care (Table 26.4).

TABLE 26.4 Clinical relevance of physiological adaptations in pregnancy

Effects of the normal physiology of pregnancy	Clinical implications
Cardiovascular system
• Increased likelihood of: • venous stasis • varicose veins • deep vein thrombosis • Increased likelihood of: • haemorrhoids • swollen ankles

• Consider use of thrombophylaxis

• Potential for aortal-caval compression from about 20 weeks’ gestation

• Avoid nursing the woman flat on her back, e.g. tilt bed if unable to nurse woman on her side or use pillows/wedges to obtain a lateral tilt of at least 15° to maintain placental flow, full left lying is best

• CPR and haemodynamic measurements should be done with a left lateral tilt

• Haemodynamic stability despite large blood loss

• Sudden deterioration

• Be alert to subtle signs of haemodynamic compromise

Respiratory system

• Nasal passages more likely to bleed on instrumentation (e.g. nasal intubation, nasogastric insertion)

• More likely to bleed from the gums

• More prone to hypoxaemia during apnoea e.g. when being intubated

• All pregnant women are considered to have a high-risk airway:

• especially if the woman has preeclampsia

• particularly if the woman is obese

• More likely to develop pulmonary oedema

• Diaphragm raised by about 5 cm

• Nasal-tracheal intubation is not usually an option

• Have a doctor experienced with intubation on hand when a pregnant woman is being intubated

• Ensure that the artificial airway is protected and guard against accidental extubation

• Review the ‘failed intubation’ protocol in the ICU

• Pre-oxygenate with 100% O₂ prior to intubation or suctioning unless contraindicated

• Titrate fluid resuscitation carefully – especially in women with severe preeclampsia

• Check diaphragm location prior to ICC insertion for haemothorax/pleural effusion

Gastrointestinal system

• Pregnant woman is more likely to:

• aspirate

• develop constipation

• present with advanced signs and symptoms of acute abdomen, e.g. appendicitis, bowel obstruction

• Pregnant women have additional and specific nutritional needs

• Maintain cricoid pressure throughout CPR and intubation until the person obtaining an artificial airway instructs its release

• Chart bowel actions and ensure a bowel management strategy is implemented

• Early consideration of non-obstetric causes of an acute abdomen

• Consult with a dietician early to ensure that the woman receives adequate nutrition during ICU admission

Renal system

• Progesterone and relaxin causes relaxation and dilation of smooth muscles

• Renal calyces and renal pelvis become distended

• Ureters and urethra are elongated, dilated and have reduced peristalsis

• Stasis of urine and increased risk of ascending infection

• Acute pyelonephritis is associated with preterm labour

• Bladder is displaced into the abdominal cavity after the first trimester

• Minimise use of indwelling urinary catheter

• Renal impairment may be signified by lower serum urea and creatinine levels than in non-pregnancy

• Some glycosuria and proteinuria is normal in pregnancy

• The bladder is at risk of traumatic injury in the second and third trimesters

Diseases and Conditions Unique to Pregnancy

There are a number of conditions unique to pregnancy that might cause a woman to become critically ill and result in admission to ICU including preeclampsia, obstetric haemorrhage, amniotic fluid embolism and peripartum cardiomyopathy. These conditions are discussed in detail below.

Preeclampsia

The umbrella term ‘hypertension in pregnancy’ is used to describe a myriad of conditions in pregnancy where hypertension is a major feature. These include gestational hypertension, pre-existing essential hypertension and preeclampsia which incorporates eclampsia and Haemolysis Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelets (HELLP) syndrome (Table 26.5). Comprehensive descriptions of these conditions and their management have been published by the Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) and the Society of Obstetric Medicine Australia and New Zealand (SOMANZ).^65,⁶⁶

TABLE 26.5 Definitions of conditions characterised by hypertension in pregnancy

Term	Definition
Hypertension in pregnancy	• Systolic BP ≥140 mmHg and/or a diastolic BP ≥90 mmHg ⁶⁵
Essential hypertension	• Hypertension presenting in the first 20 weeks or that existed prior to the pregnancy without an apparent underlying cause ⁶⁵
Gestational hypertension	• Hypertension arising after 20 weeks’ gestation and resolving by 3 months postpartum • No evidence of any other feature of the multisystem disorder preeclampsia ⁶⁵
Preeclampsia (Also referred to as pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH), toxaemia)	• Hypertension arising after 20 weeks’ gestation in combination with one or more of the following:⁶⁵ • Proteinuria >300 mg/24 hrs • Renal insufficiency: serum/plasma creatinine ≥0.09 mmol/L or oliguria • Liver disease: raised serum transaminases and/or severe epigastric/right upper quadrant pain • Neurological problems: convulsions (eclampsia), hyperreflexia with clonus, severe headaches with hyperreflexia, persistent visual disturbances • Haematological disturbances: thrombocytopenia, DIC, haemolysis • Fetal growth restriction

Eclampsia

• Is a form of severe preeclampsia

• Generalised tonic-clonic seizures, not caused by epilepsy or other disease, and occurring ≥20 weeks gestation, during labour or in the postpartum

HELLP syndrome

• Is a form of severe preeclampsia, although hypertension may not be present ⁶⁹

• Diagnosis of HELLP syndrome is made by the presence of the following three criteria:⁷⁰

• Haemolysis: characteristic peripheral blood smear and serum lactate dehydrogenase >600 U/L or serum total bilirubin ≥1.2 mg/dL

• Elevated liver enzymes: serum aspartate aminotransferase ≥70 U/L

• Low platelet count: <100 x 10⁹/L

DIC – disseminated intravascular coagulopathy; HELLP – haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets.

Preeclampsia is a condition unique to human pregnancy in that, whilst characterised by hypertension and proteinuria, it is a multisystem disorder consisting of variable clinical features caused by widespread vasospasm. The basis for preeclampsia remains unknown. The indication for ICU admission is usually related to organ failure, caused by the widespread vasospasm and reduced organ perfusion that characterises the disease.⁶⁷ Preeclampsia can be a very serious condition and remains a leading cause of maternal death in both developed and developing countries.⁶⁸

Aetiology

The placenta is strongly implicated in the cause of preeclampsia; its removal is the only definitive treatment for the condition. However, the exact mechanisms of the aetiology of the disease remain elusive and are likely to be complex and multifactorial. Theories explaining the pathophysiology of preeclampsia include immune maladaptation, abnormal trophoblast embedding, endothelial activation and excessive inflammatory response, and a genetic susceptibility (Box 26.1).⁷¹ The contribution of each component and whether all components are relevant in all cases of preeclampsia is not known. It is feasible that there are differing types of pathophysiology for mild preeclampsia that occurs at term, compared with severe preeclampsia that often occurs prior to 34 weeks’ gestation.

Box 26.1

Theories on the pathophysiology of preeclampsia ⁷¹

Placentation and the immune theory of preeclampsia:

• maternal–fetal (paternal) immune maladaptation

• superficial abnormal placentation

• impaired spiral artery remodelling

Placental debris hypothesis: syncytiotrophoblast shedding

• increased syncytiotrophoblast shedding

• placental ischaemia and reperfusion with subsequent oxidative stress

• increased circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines, corticotropin-releasing hormone, free-radical species and activin A

Endothelial activation and inflammation:

• enhanced vascular sensitivity to angiotensin II and noradrenaline with subsequent vasoconstriction and hypertension

• a fall in production and activity of vasodilator prostaglandins, especially prostacyclin and nitric oxide

Genes, the genetic-conflict hypothesis, and genetic imprinting:

• susceptibility genes, many of which interact with the maternal cardiovascular or haemostatic system, or with the regulation of maternal inflammatory responses

Preeclampsia is associated with impaired remodelling of the uterine spiral arteries and abnormal placental implantation. It is thought that maternal–fetal immune maladaptation could be the main cause for this superficial placentation.⁷¹ Placental flow defects are detected as early as 12 weeks in some women who go on to develop preeclampsia.⁷² Placental ischaemia and reperfusion with subsequent oxidative stress have been regarded as major pathogenetic drivers. It is likely that there is an excessive or atypical maternal immune response to trophoblasts and the disease represents a failed interaction between the mother’s and fetus’ genetic make-up.⁶⁸ The excessive systemic inflammatory response and associated endothelial dysfunction and enhanced vascular reactivity, results in widespread vasospasm which precedes the onset of clinical signs, such as hypertension.⁶⁸ Other common clinical manifestations in preeclampsia include enhanced endothelial-cell permeability and platelet aggregation, explaining the increased likelihood for oedema and thrombosis.⁷¹

In summary, preeclampsia presents post 20 weeks’ gestation, but the foundation for the disease relates to abnormal placentation early in the first trimester. Whilst a number of ‘biomarkers’ attempting to predict the onset of preeclampsia have been identified, there is no reliable predictive test in clinical use.⁶⁸

Risk Factors

A number of maternal characteristics are associated with an increased likelihood for the development of preeclampsia; these include:^71,⁷³

• nulliparity

• age ≥40 years

• preexisting medical conditions including diabetes, chronic hypertension, chronic renal disease, antiphospholipid antibodies

• preeclampsia in a prior pregnancy, particularly if the previous preeclampsia presented prior to 34 weeks

• family history of preeclampsia, particularly on the maternal side of the family

• multiple pregnancy e.g. twins

• body mass index >25 prior to pregnancy

• a new fathering partner for the index pregnancy

• achieving conception using assisted techniques, such as in vitro fertilisation.

Unfortunately, these known risk factors are not overly clinically helpful, as about half of the childbearing population has at least one. A high priority should be placed on early and accurate diagnosis of preeclampsia in a pregnant woman rather than designating a woman as ‘high risk’ or ‘low risk’.

Incidence

The incidence of preeclampsia is reported between 2–8%, with variations based on severity of the disease.⁷³ The incidence of eclampsia in developed countries has reduced since the routine use of magnesium sulphate has been adopted; in the UK, the rate is about 3 cases of eclampsia for every 10,000 births.⁷⁴ A prospective binational study on the incidence of eclampsia in Australia and New Zealand is underway by the Australasian Maternity Outcomes Surveillance System (AMOSS), and intends to document Australian and New Zealand population-based incidences for the first time.⁷⁵ The incidence of HELLP syndrome is reported to be between 0.11% and 0.67% of all pregnancies.^76,⁷⁷ Preeclampsia is one of the most common indications for ICU admission at approximately one ICU admission for every 1000 deliveries.³

Clinical Presentation and Diagnosis

The clinical presentation of preeclampsia is often subtle, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment. Common symptoms include feeling ‘generally unwell’, headache, heartburn, nausea and vomiting, and oedema; all non-specific symptoms experienced by many pregnant women who do not have preeclampsia. Severe preeclampsia is associated with severe headache, hypereflexia, vision disturbances, severe epigastric pain, right upper quadrant pain and even blindness. There is also evidence of impaired systolic and diastolic myocardial function. Diagnosis is made when the woman has hypertension (BP ≥140/90), in association with evidence of multisystem involvement (Box 26.2). Severe preeclampsia is diagnosed when the BP is ≥160/110, in association with multisystem involvement. Additionally, eclampsia and HELLP syndrome are considered severe variants of preeclampsia even if the woman is normotensive.

Box 26.2

Diagnostic features of preeclampsia

Hypertension ≥140/90 accompanied by one or more of the following:

Adapted from (66 and 71).

This clinical diagnosis has replaced the traditional triad of signs of hypertension, proteinuria and oedema, in accordance with the increased understanding of the multisystem nature of the disease. Raised blood pressure is commonly, but not always, the first sign of the condition. Although proteinuria is the most commonly recognised additional feature after hypertension, it is not mandatory to make a clinical diagnosis. Oedema is no longer a specific sign of preeclampsia, though women who develop non-dependent oedema, such as facial oedema, should be investigated for evidence of preeclampsia.⁶⁶ Common investigations include urea, creatinine and electrolytes, full blood examination, liver function tests, serum uric acid, spot urine protein/creatinine ratio and 24 hour urine collection. Additional tests, such as coagulation studies, may be required as indicated by the clinical condition. Intra-uterine fetal growth restriction is a sign of placental involvement (i.e. impairment) and investigation into fetal wellbeing, including an ultrasound for fetal growth estimation and amniotic fluid volume, and umbilical artery Doppler flow patterns should be done routinely following a diagnosis of severe preeclampsia.

The presentation of preeclampsia is usually restricted to women ≥20 weeks’ gestation unless they have a co-existing condition that is known to be associated with the <20 weeks presentation of preeclampsia including hydatidiform mole, multiple pregnancy, fetal triploidy, severe maternal renal disease or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome.⁶⁶

The old adage is that approximately one-third of eclampsia occurs during pregnancy, one-third during labour and one-third postpartum; the UKOSS study found 45% of first eclamptic fits were during pregnancy, 19% during labour and 36% postpartum.⁷⁴ The majority of postpartum eclampsia occurs in the first 48 hours, although late-onset eclampsia may occur at two to three weeks postpartum. Despite the nomenclature, eclampsia can occur without any preceding signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. In the UKOSS eclampsia study, only 38% of women had established hypertension and proteinuria in the week preceding the eclamptic fit and 21% of women had no sign or symptom prior to the first eclamptic fit.⁷⁴ HELLP syndrome commonly presents during pregnancy with about 30% postpartum.⁷⁸

Most women admitted to ICU with a diagnosis of preeclampsia have usually delivered prior to transfer, and require support for complications of preeclampsia, e.g. acute renal failure, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), pulmonary oedema and fluid management. Once the placenta is delivered, most women improve within 24–48 hours, however, women with HELLP syndrome may experience a worsening of condition in the first 48 hours postpartum. Uncontrolled hypertension remains a major concern and is associated with cerebral haemorrhage, one of the dominant causes of death in women with preeclampsia.

Management Priorities

Women with mild preeclampsia at term may be managed with induction of labour and delivery and experience few complications. The management of women with severe preeclampsia is focused on stablising the woman’s condition, optimal timing of delivery of the baby (and placenta) and preventing complications of the condition. Women with eclampsia and HELLP syndrome require the same treatments as other women with severe preeclampsia, even though they may or may not have the same degree of hypertension.^69,⁷⁹

Prevention of eclampsia

Magnesium sulphate has received the most attention as an anticonvulsant in preeclampsia, with its mechanism of action thought to be connected to the release of prostacyclin from the endothelium, reversing the vasoconstriction that is the basis of the disease.^80,⁸¹ Magnesium is the anticonvulsant of choice to reduce the incidence of eclampsia.^82,⁸³ A common magnesium regimen is:^68,⁸²

• 4g IV loading dose given over 15–20 minutes

• an ongoing infusion of 1 g/hr

• an additional 2–4 g IV loading dose should be administered over 10 minutes to treat a recurrent eclamptic seizure

• continue infusion until 24 hours following delivery or 24 hours following the last eclamptic fit; whichever occurs the later.

The optimal therapeutic level of magnesium required to reduce the risk of fitting is not well understood and many advocate against the need to monitor serum magnesium levels on the basis that clinical assessment of deep tendon reflexes, urine output and respiratory rate is adequate to identify potentially toxic magnesium levels,^68,⁸² although evidence is inconsistent. Other opinions suggests a therapeutic serum magnesium level of 2 mmol/L but there is no rationale provided for this level.⁸⁴

Control hypertension

Obtaining control of high blood pressure remains a priority not only to improve organ perfusion but to minimise the risk of cerebral haemorrhage, a well-demonstrated hazard of hypertension in preeclampsia.²⁴ Both systolic and diastolic pressures are important and care should be taken to ensure a controlled lowering of blood pressure, as a rapid drop can compromise fetal wellbeing. There is no evidence for the superiority of any specific antihypertensive, although there is some evidence that diazoxide may result in a potentially-harmful rapid drop in the woman’s blood pressure, and that ketanserin may not be as effective as hydralazine.⁸³ Intravenous hydralazine is the most common drug used to treat very high blood pressure with IV labetalol increasingly being used. Severe hypertension may be treated with IV GTN or nitroprusside. The target blood pressure is not well described, other than to avoid precipitous drops in BP and to maintain adequate placental perfusion. Research has used a target diastolic BP of 85–95 mmHg.⁸⁵

Optimal fluid management

Despite being hypertensive, preeclamptic women are usually plasma-volume depleted.⁸⁶ In the past, intravenous fluid was administered in an attempt to restore the deficit, with no advantage noted between colloids and crystalloids. More recently, there has been a move towards more conservative plasma volume expansion due to the risk of pulmonary oedema. In reviews of maternal deaths associated with preeclampsia, it was noticed that some women were dying from complications of fluid overload. Careful titration of intravenous fluid is required with the use of pulmonary artery catheters advocated by some to guide the administration of fluid in women with severe preeclampsia, to optimise plasma volume and organ perfusion without the development of pulmonary oedema.⁸⁷ Central venous pressure is universally accepted as unhelpful to guide fluid management in preeclampsia. See also Box 26.3.

Box 26.3

Management of women with HELLP syndrome using steroids

The use of steroids has been evaluated in the management of HELLP syndrome in the belief that steroids may mitigate the severity of the disease. However, a Cochrane Review concluded that there was insufficient evidence to determine whether steroid use as a treatment for HELLP syndrome had a favourable outcome for mothers and babies, although steroids may be beneficial if an increase in platelet count was imperative.⁸⁸

Practice tip

Many maternity professionals abbreviate preeclampsia to PE. This can be very confusing given that in other health care settings, the abbreviation PE usually stands for pulmonary embolism. Be clear in any notes that you make, and clarify when reading notes that have been given to you.

Obstetric Haemorrhage

Obstetric haemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal mortality across the world and directly accounts for an estimated 127,000 deaths each year. Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is responsible for the majority of these maternal deaths. The past decade has seen an increase in both the incidence and severity of obstetric haemorrhage, with more women requiring a blood transfusion for postpartum haemorrhage than in the past.⁹¹ Severe bleeding in childbirth is estimated to occur once in every 200–250 births, although incidence is highly dependent on how ‘severe bleeding’ is defined.²⁴ Major obstetric haemorrhage is often sudden and unexpected, and is frequently associated with an acute coagulopathy. Early recognition and treatment of major obstetric haemorrhage is vital to ensure the best outcome for mother and fetus. A repeated finding in maternal death reviews is a delay by obstetric providers in recognising the severity of haemorrhage and a consequent deterioration in maternal condition.²⁴

Obstetric haemorrhage may occur after the 20th week gestation up to the birth (antepartum haemorrhage) and after the birth of the baby (postpartum haemorrhage). Severe obstetric haemorrhage is a common reason for postpartum women to be admitted to ICU at 0.7/1000 deliveries, with many women experiencing haemorrhage before and after the birth of the baby.³ Although not classified technically as an obstetric haemorrhage, ruptured ectopic pregnancy can also result in life-threatening haemorrhage and result in ICU admission. The common causes of antepartum and postpartum haemorrhage are described below with common management strategies presented at the end of the section. See also Box 26.4.

Box 26.4

What about vaginal bleeding before the 20th week of gestation?

Vaginal bleeding before the 20th week of gestation (usually a type of miscarriage, e.g. threatened, incomplete) is considered ‘early pregnancy bleeding’ and is not categorised as obstetric haemorrhage per se. Septic abortion (or miscarriage) can cause profound bleeding in the days after the event when the infection has become established.

Antepartum Haemorrhage

Antepartum haemorrhage (APH) is defined as any bleeding from the genital tract occurring between the 20th week of gestation and the birth of the baby and occurs in 2–5% of all pregnancies.⁹² Bleeding from the vagina prior to 20 weeks’ gestation is referred to in terms of miscarriage (e.g. threatened) and is not classified as an APH. The two main causes of APH are placental abruption and placenta praevia.

Placental abruption (or abruptio placentae)

Placental abruption is premature separation (i.e. before the birth of the baby) of a normally-sited placenta from the uterine wall and is responsible for about 25% of APH.⁹² Only a portion of the placenta separates with two-thirds separation considered severe. There are two relevant matters to consider with placental abruption: how much blood the woman has lost and how much placenta remains attached and functionally able to support the fetus. If the placenta partially separates along an edge of the placenta, blood loss is usually visible via the vagina. In some cases the centre part of the placenta detaches, leaving the rim attached all the way around (like the rim of a dinner plate) and in these cases, the blood loss is usually not visible via the vagina (i.e. is concealed). However, the woman may have lost substantial blood volume and be in hypovolaemic shock. This type of placental abruption is usually accompanied by severe abdominal pain and DIC commonly develops in response to blood being forced into uterine muscle tissue; referred to as a couvelaire uterus. Once half to two-thirds of the placenta is detached, the likelihood of fetal survival is low, especially if the woman is also hypotensive. In the majority of cases, only women with severe placental abruption are admitted to ICU and usually admission occurs following an emergency caesarean section. Understanding of the aetiology of placental abruption is not complete with approximately 20% of cases unexplained. For most women, placental abruption is associated with a known related factor like preeclampsia, blunt trauma (e.g. car crash) and sudden reduction in uterine volume (e.g. after delivery of the first baby in a twin pregnancy).

Placenta praevia

Placenta praevia is when some or the entire placenta is abnormally sited in the lower segment of the uterus, often referred to as a low-lying placenta. Placenta praevia is graded into four categories of severity according to the location of the placenta in relation to the cervix (Box 26.5). A vaginal birth is not possible with Grades III and IV as the placenta blocks the passage for the baby, necessitating a caesarean section. The lower uterine segment does not fully form until 28–32 weeks’ gestation and the shearing stress as the lower uterine segment forms may precipitate detachment of the placenta from the uterine wall causing maternal bleeding. However, bleeding can occur at any time, is usually painless and may be massive. Placenta praevia is the main cause of APH accounting for 30% of cases.⁹² As with placental abruption, management is dictated by the size of the blood loss and maternal condition, how much functioning placenta remains and fetal wellbeing, and whether bleeding is ongoing. In severe cases, the woman is usually taken to theatre for an emergency caesarean section.

Box 26.5

Categories of severity of placenta praevia

• Type I (low-lying placenta): The placenta is located in the lower uterine segment but does not impede on the internal cervical os.

• Type II (marginal): The placenta edge is aligned with the internal cervical os.

• Type III (partial): The placenta lies over and partially covers the internal cervical os.

• Type IV (complete): The placenta is centrally located over the cervix and completely covers it.

Placenta accreta is a serious complicating condition that may occur in conjunction with placenta praevia. The attachment of the placenta to the uterine wall is abnormal and is considered morbidly adherent. There are three levels of severity, although often all three are referred to as placenta accreta (Box 26.6). Placenta accreta is strongly associated with prior caesarean section and a woman with an anterior placenta praevia and a prior caesarean section should be actively screened for placenta accreta (by ultrasound or MRI) prior to any elective caesarean section. Placental tissue can be very invasive and may infiltrate local structures like the bladder. Many women with placenta accreta undergo emergency hysterectomy at the time of caesarean section, as a means to remove the placenta and control bleeding. An alternative management is to deliver the baby by caesarean section and leave the placenta in situ.⁹³ As long as a portion of the placenta does not detach, there will be no bleeding and in most cases, the placenta will autolyse and be re-absorbed by the woman.

Box 26.6

Types of placenta accreta

• Placenta accreta: the placenta is abnormally adherent to the uterine lining

• Placenta increta: the placenta invades the uterine muscle (myometrium)

• Placenta percreta: the placenta grows through the myometrium and into adjacent structures, such as the bladder and ureters

Practice tip

Read a woman’s operation report if she has a diagnosis of placenta accreta to identify the extent to which the placental tissue has invaded local structures, such as the bladder, ureters and bowel. For example, the bladder is often affected and a cystotomy may have been required to separate the placenta from the bladder.