Trauma affects an estimated 8% of all pregnancies and is the leading cause of non-obstetric maternal morbidity and mortality. Pregnancy can complicate the evaluation of a trauma patient, and we must be aware of the normal anatomic and physiologic changes that occur during pregnancy, as well as the adjustments that must be made to our trauma algorithm. This post will review the keys to managing a pregnant trauma patient, as well as injuries and interventions specific to pregnancy…
Read MoreA 41-year-old G1P0 female at 7 weeks gestation presents to the emergency department (ED) with 3 days of mild lower abdominal cramping and intermittent vaginal spotting. Nothing makes the cramps better or worse and the spotting randomly occurs throughout the day. She rates the cramping at a 7/10 and describes it as “bad period cramps.” She has no other symptoms and is nervous that “something is wrong with the baby”…
Read MoreA 17-year-old female presents via EMS from her boyfriend’s home after a report of two separate episodes of generalized tonic-clonic seizure like activity. She has no previous history of seizures. Per EMS, she was given versed on scene for seizure like activity lasting roughly 5 minutes. She was also febrile to 100.8°F. The emergency department team is unable to obtain a detailed history from the patient and unable to reach the family when the patient first presents to the ED…
Read MoreA 15-year-old female presents to your emergency department with her mother. She is tearful and withdrawn. She tells you that she was sexually assaulted by a 20 year old male acquaintance 2 days prior. She reports that she would like to report the assault and would like to have a forensic exam. She is having some vaginal bleeding and pain around her rectum. She admits to using alcohol and some marijuana on the night of the assault. She is unable to remember everything that happened and thinks her assailant may have put a drug in her drink…
Read MoreA 24-year-old female with a past medical history of polycystic ovarian syndrome and urinary tract infections, who presented to the emergency department (ED) via urgent care with acute on chronic worsening abdominal pain and a cystic structure in the pelvis on computed tomography (CT) scan…
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