Obstetrics and Neonatology Flashcards
7 cards from real AEMCA practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Obstetrics and Neonatology flashcards as text
A patient delivers a preterm infant at approximately 32 weeks. Beyond airway management and warmth, which additional measure is most important for this neonate?
Answer: Wrap in a polyethylene plastic bag or thermal blanket to prevent heat loss
Preterm neonates are highly susceptible to hypothermia; wrapping in a polyethylene bag (without drying) is recommended to maintain temperature in infants under 32 weeks.
Which finding BEST differentiates placental abruption from placenta previa in a third-trimester patient?
Answer: Painful, dark red bleeding with a rigid abdomen
Placental abruption classically presents with painful vaginal bleeding and uterine rigidity due to retroplacental hemorrhage, distinguishing it from the painless bleeding of previa.
During a breech delivery, the infant's body delivers but the head does not. Which maneuver is used to deliver the aftercoming head?
Answer: Mauriceau-Smellie-Veit maneuver
The Mauriceau-Smellie-Veit maneuver uses the provider's fingers in the infant's mouth to flex the head while applying supraoccipital pressure to facilitate delivery.
A patient at 36 weeks presents with generalized tonic-clonic seizure activity. She has no prior seizure history. What is the MOST likely diagnosis?
Answer: Eclampsia
New-onset seizures in a pregnant patient beyond 20 weeks with no prior history are eclampsia until proven otherwise.
A neonate is apneic and limp at birth. After drying, warming, and stimulation for 30 seconds, there is still no respiratory effort. What is your next action?
Answer: Begin positive-pressure ventilation with room air (or blended oxygen)
Per NRP guidelines, apnea after initial steps requires immediate positive-pressure ventilation, ideally starting with 21% oxygen (room air) for term neonates.
The normal fetal heart rate range monitored during field assessment of a pregnant patient is:
Answer: 110–160 beats per minute
A normal fetal heart rate is 110–160 bpm; rates outside this range may indicate fetal distress and require rapid transport.
A patient in active labor suddenly develops a prolapsed umbilical cord visible at the vaginal introitus. Your IMMEDIATE action is:
Answer: Elevate the presenting part off the cord with a gloved hand and rapid transport
Manually elevating the fetal presenting part relieves cord compression and is the critical field intervention for umbilical cord prolapse while transporting emergently.