Ectopic pregnancy in a blunt trauma patient.
Trauma during pregnancy is a frequent occurrence, and early pregnancies are likely to be unrecognized in the routine evaluation of female trauma patients. We present the case of a 16-year-old woman injured in a motor vehicle crash who sustained a closed head injury and was found to have a right ectopic tubal pregnancy. Since several physiologic responses and pathologic conditions occur during pregnancy, which complicate the diagnosis and treatment of a pregnant patient, it is important to detect pregnancy early in the patient's evaluation. This case report demonstrates an unusual presentation of ectopic pregnancy and illustrates the merits of routine pregnancy testing of female trauma patients.
Lipton
J D
JD
Department of Emergency Medicine, Gaston Memorial Hospital, North Carolina.
Thomason
M H
MH
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D004630:Emergencies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011258:Pregnancy Tests; D011274:Pregnancy, Tubal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis