title: Detection of unknown early pregnancy. A matter of safety.
abstract: Almost 2% of females admitted as accident victims to a general hospital-teaching facility were pregnant without their physicians knowing it. Emergency treatment of such patients may overshadow other aspects of holistic care and have adverse consequences when a pregnancy is unrecognized. These cases illustrate the importance of always performing a complete physical examination and obtaining a good history that includes menstrual data. When appropriate, we recommend routine use of the serum human chorionic gonadotropin test for pregnancy. It is a simple and reliable means of detecting pregnancy by ten days after nidation, and its use protects the patient, physician, and unborn child. Safer health service is the result.
authors: Department of Psychiatry, Humana Hospital-University of Louisville, KY 40202.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Lippmann
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Bordador
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Shaltout
mesh_terms: D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011258:Pregnancy Tests; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D006063:Chorionic Gonadotropin