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Chapter 26 - Neurologic Emergencies of Pregnancy

from Section 3 - Specific Neurological Disorders in Emergency Medicine

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 January 2024

By
Ronald L. Thomas ,
Andrea Synowiec ,
Roseann Covatto  and
Thomas P. Campbell
Edited by
Thomas P. Campbell  and
Kevin M. Kelly
Thomas P. Campbell
Affiliation:
Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh
Kevin M. Kelly
Affiliation:
Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh
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Summary

The spectrum of neurologic emergencies in pregnancy extends from life-threatening eclamptic seizures to self-limiting paresthesias. Pregnancy markedly modifies human physiology, creating a unique and challenging physical and laboratory evaluation. In addition, pregnant patients may present with gestational and peripartum conditions resulting directly from pregnancy, but also a portent of future disease as well as exacerbation of pre-existing conditions changed by the patient’s gravid state. All of these issues can be complicated by the “second patient” (the fetus), which requires careful consideration.

Keywords

preeclampsia/eclampsiamagnesium sulfateproteinuriaidiopathic intracranial hypertensionlateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy
Type
Chapter
Information
Handbook of Emergency Neurology , pp. 374 - 391
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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