O&G Cases · Critical care in obstetrics and gynaecology
Euglycaemic ketoacidosis on the antenatal ward — emergency management station
Team-based emergency station: euglycaemic diabetic ketoacidosis on an antenatal ward after antenatal corticosteroids and preterm prelabour rupture of membranes. Tests bedside ketone testing, potassium-before-insulin sequencing, fluid and insulin rates, resisting an unnecessary caesarean, structured handover and prevention. Includes assessor timeline, marking domains, assessor key and fail criteria.
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Station brief
Format. Emergency management station, approximately 12 minutes. You are the obstetric registrar on an antenatal ward. An anaesthetic registrar and a midwife are with you; the consultant is 20 minutes away and has been called. The assessor runs the clock and feeds new observations and results. [1][2]
Candidate instruction. Lead the assessment and resuscitation. Verbalise your actions, your orders with rates, your escalation triggers, your reasoning about the fetus, and your communication with the team and the consultant. [1][2]
You have read the opening of this case. The complete unit — every section and its primary-source references — is part of the Obstetrics & Gynaecology fellowship atlas.
References8Show ledgerHide ledger
- [1]Umpierrez GE, Davis GM, ElSayed NA, et al. Hyperglycemic Crises in Adults With Diabetes: A Consensus Report. Diabetes Care, 2024.PMID 39052901
- [2]Sibai BM, Viteri OA Diabetic ketoacidosis in pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol, 2014.PMID 24463678
- [3]Rowe JC 4th, Scaglione M, Ma'ayeh M, et al. Diagnosis and Management of Euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol, 2026.PMID 41380162
- [4]Jones A, Gong JY, Lee IL, et al. Proactive Insulin Escalation for Antenatal Betamethasone-Induced Hyperglycaemia in Women With Diabetes: A Prospective Cohort Study. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 2025.PMID 40242934
- [5]Diguisto C, Strachan MWJ, Churchill D, et al. A study of diabetic ketoacidosis in the pregnant population in the United Kingdom: Investigating the incidence, aetiology, management and outcomes. Diabet Med, 2022.PMID 34778994
- [6]Spencer NR, Clark SM, Harirah HM Management of Diabetic Ketoacidosis in Pregnancy. Clin Obstet Gynecol, 2023.PMID 36657054
- [7]Rudland VL, Price SAL, Callaway L ADIPS position paper on pre-existing diabetes and pregnancy. Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 2020.PMID 33135798
- [8]Cozzi-Glaser GD, Davis AM, Bell M, et al. Pregnancy outcomes following diabetic ketoacidosis: a systematic review. Am J Obstet Gynecol MFM, 2025.PMID 40447103