Menstrual Abnormalities and Gynaecological Problems in Women on Anticoagulant and Antiplatelet Therapy: Management Options

Introduction: The aim of this study was: 1) To study the pattern of menstrual abnormality and severity in women on anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs. 2) To analyze the correlation of prothrombin time (PT), International Normalised ratio (INR) and the bleeding severity. 3) To discuss the various management options in unexpected emergencies and menstrual complications in this subset of women on anticoagulants. Material & Methods: It is a prospective study, over a period of 18 months from July 2011 to december 2012. We had 44 women on antithrombotic therapy. 32 women were on anticoagulants and 12 were on antiplatelet agents. The severity of bleeding pattern was assessed with pictoral bleeding assessment chart (PBAC). 1) Out of 44 women studied, 32 women were on anticoagulants and 12 were on antiplatelet agents. 26 (81.25%) were on acenocoumarol, 5 (15.62%) on warfarin, 1 (3.12%) on heparin, among the 12 antiplatelet users, 8 (66.66%) were on aspirin and 4 (33.33%) on clopidogrel. 2) The indication for anticoagulants was mitral valve replacement (MVR) in 9, double valve replacement (DVR) in 6, aortic valve replacement (AVR) in 3, severe pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) in 2, severe mitral stenosis (MS) with atrial thrombus in 2, deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in 5, severe mitral regurgitation (MR) in one, the other indications were subdural hematoma, thromboendarterectomy, chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage V, coarction of aorta, one each. The indication for antiplatelet therapy was percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 3, Wolf Parkinson White (WPW) syndrome + atrial fibrillation (AF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), mid basilar artery aneurysm, renal allograft recipient, dialated cardiomyopathy, aortic aneurysm repair, hypertension and unstable angina one each. Results: In women on anticoagulants (32), the main complaint was menorrhagia/heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) in 20, polymenorrhoea with menorrhagia in 4, continuous per vaginal (PV) bleeding in 6. One lady had postmenopausal bleeding. Among the 12 antiplatelet users the main complaint was menorrhagia in 8, polymenorrhoea with menorrhagia in 2, postmenopausal bleeding in one. While on antithrombotic therapy apart from heavy menstrual bleeding, two women had intraperitoneal bleeding, two had post menopausal bleeding, two had secondary postpartum bleeding (PPH). CVA due to embolic stroke occurred in three, one during the study period. Subchoroidal haemorrhage causing choroidal detachment was noted in one. Conclusions: In patients with prolonged INR, excessive uterine bleeding can be an alerting initial manifestation. Antithrombotic therapy can cause HMB or exaggerate the symptom of HMB due to an underlying gynaec pathology. Mefanamic acid and norethisterone were used to arrest heavy menstrual bleeding. Antithrombotic therapy in women needs special consideration with alterations in menstrual pattern and contraception. Pregnancy and postpartum period present special challenges.

Clinical profile and outcome of obstetric ICU patients. APACHE II, SOFA, SAPS II and MPM scoring systems for prediction of prognosis

Objectives: To evaluate the various scoring systems, APACHE II, SOFA, SAPS II and MPM for the prediction of prognosis of the obstetric critically ill patients admitted in a well supported ICU unit. Material and methods: A prospective, observational study was conducted among all the obstetric patients admitted to the ICU between October 2011 and December 2012, during a period of 15 months. The data collected were of three categories: demographic, obstetric and ICU related. Results and Analysis: The patients admitted in the postpartum period (n = 28, 53.84%) were more than the antenatal admissions (n = 24, 46.16%). 32.69% of admissions were in the third trimester. The most common mode of delivery was emergency caesarean section (n = 27/40, 67.5%). Total caesarean deliveries were 35/40 = 87.5% in ICU patients. The mortality prediction scores were calculated for 41 patients only as acid blood gas analysis was not available for the rest. Patients required ventilation—51.92%, hemodialysis—19.23%, inotropic support—38.46%, blood transfusion—50%. Analysis of the statistical data for ICU parameters has shown that hospital stay (p = 0.011) and ventilation days (p = 0.014) are significant predictors of maternal outcome. Age (p = 0.789), ICU stay (p = 0.701) and RRT (p = 0.632) are not significant. Among the obstetric ICU admissions, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (30.76%) was the predominant cause followed by obstetric haemorrhage (23.07%). Discussion: HELLP syndrome and eclampsia (n = 4, 57%) were the major causes of maternal deaths with anaesthetic mishaps accounting for 29% (n = 2). One (14%) death was due to Eisenmenger’s syndrome. In one case of H1N1 admitted with ARDS, caesarean section was done in MICU for worsening respiratory distress. The maternal mortality in this series of cases was 7/52 = 13.46%, excluding the unavoidable cases of maternal death (3 cases brain dead at admission and one cardiac arrest in emergency room), our maternal mortality rate is 3/48 = 6.25%. The predicted mortality as measured by all scoring systems (for 41 patients) was between 17% and 30%. The observed mortality was around 17%. Hence a reduction in mortality of 40% has been achieved due to intensive care. Conclusions: Leading cause of maternal mortality was HELLP syndrome. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were the most common cause of admission to ICU. In this study, all the scores were equally significant in predicting maternal mortality. Amongst the interventions done for these patients mechanical ventilation seems to have an influence on the overall outcome.