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Cardiovascular Emergencies of Pregnancy

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Emergency Department Management of Obstetric Complications

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Abstract

The unique physiologic changes of pregnancy put these patients at heightened risk for cardiovascular emergencies. This chapter reviews the management of three prominent and potentially devastating conditions in the pregnant patient: venous thromboembolism, aortic dissection, and peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). The authors examine risk factors, clinical presentation, and specific management strategies for these life-threatening situations. Overlapping symptoms between multiple life-threatening, yet physiologically different, pathologies can cloud diagnosis of cardiovascular emergencies. Furthermore, early symptoms of these emergencies can mirror normal physiologic changes in pregnancy. This chapter seeks to highlight subtle differences in presentation that enable prompt, accurate identification of these potentially catastrophic complications. Management for each condition, with nuanced and specific evaluation of particular pharmaceutical agents and their safety and efficacy in pregnancy, will also be discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20007, USA

    Lisel Curtis M.D.

  2. Department of Emergency Medicine, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, 3800 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20007, USA

    Nick Tsipis M.D.

Authors
  1. Lisel Curtis M.D.
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  2. Nick Tsipis M.D.
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Correspondence to Lisel Curtis M.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC, USA

    Joelle Borhart

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Curtis, L., Tsipis, N. (2017). Cardiovascular Emergencies of Pregnancy. In: Borhart, J. (eds) Emergency Department Management of Obstetric Complications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54410-6_9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-54410-6_9

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-54409-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-54410-6

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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