Emergency medicine clinics of North America
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Cardiovascular disease has overtaken all other causes of maternal death in the United States. The physiologic changes of pregnancy place a significant amount of stress on the cardiovascular system and put pregnant women at risk for potentially catastrophic complications, such as pulmonary embolism, aortic or coronary artery dissection, myocardial infarction, and peripartum cardiomyopathy. The diagnosis of these conditions is challenging because the symptoms can mimic those experienced in normal pregnancies. There are subtle differences in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular emergencies in pregnant patients that clinicians must be aware of; however, the overall management goals are similar.
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Many health care providers lack familiarity with maternal physiologic changes and the distinctive underlying etiology of cardiac arrest in pregnancy. Knowledge of what changes are expected in pregnancy and an understanding of how to adapt clinical practice is essential for the care of the pregnant woman in the emergency department. ⋯ Cardiopulmonary resuscitation should follow standard AHA ACLS guidelines. Resuscitative hysterotomy may be attempted to restore perfusion to both mother and fetus.