Originally Published: Modern Resident, Dec/Jan 2012
Original Author: McKaila Allcorn, DO Kent Hospital
Submitted by: Rachel Engle, DO Communications Committee Chair
For most of us, pregnant patients can be intimidating (and not just
because of their hormones). While it would be nice to think that our
obstetric colleagues can handle all emergencies that occur in pregnancy,
it is important to remember that not all baby-bump wielding women
present with a purely obstetric complaint. Here are just a few things to
keep in mind!
Appendicitis is still the most common surgical emergency in
pregnant patients. Incidence is the same in pregnant patients as it is
in non-pregnant patients (7%). During the first 20 weeks, clinical
findings are usually similar to that of the non-pregnant patient. The
