Pathology 3240A Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Intrauterine Hypoxia, Nuchal Cord, Hamartoma

• School: Western University
• Department: Pathology
• Course: Pathology 3240A
• Professor: Keith Kwan

Document Summary

May be acquired transcervically (ascending) or transplacentally (hematologically) Bacterial (beta hemolytic streptococcal infections) and viral (herpes) Fetus inhales" infected amniotic fluid into lungs or acquires infection when passing through infected birth canal during delivery. Torch: toxoplasma, rubella, cmv, herpes, and others (e. g. , t. pallidum). Fever, encephalitis, chorioretinitis, hepatosplenomegaly, pneumonia, myocarditis, anemia. Many causes of respiratory distress: excessive maternal sedation during delivery, fetal head injury during delivery, aspiration of blood or amniotic fluid, intrauterine hypoxia from nuchal cord. Most common cause is: respiratory distress syndrome (rds), aka hyaline membrane disease . Approx 60,000 cases of rds/yr in usa; 5,000 deaths. Main risk factor of rds is prematurity (born before 36 wks gestation) Other contributors: maternal diabetes, c-section before onset of labour, twin gestation, male infants. Alveoli tend to collapse; infant rapidly tires from breathing; atelectasis sets in. Hypoxia leads to epithelial and endothelial damage, leading to formation of hyaline membranes.