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Failure to displace the uterus to the left side in a hypotensive pregnant patient.

A. Can improve blood flow to the fetus
B. May exacerbate maternal hypotension
C. Has no effect on maternal blood pressure

User Wirbly
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

Failure to displace the uterus to the left side in a hypotensive pregnant patient may exacerbate maternal hypotension rather than improving blood flow to the fetus or having no effect on maternal blood pressure.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question pertains to the management of a hypotensive pregnant patient and the importance of displacing the uterus to the left side. In the scenario presented, failure to displace the uterus to the left side during maternal hypotension may exacerbate maternal hypotension. This occurs because the gravid uterus can compress the inferior vena cava when the mother lies supine, reducing the venous return to the heart and thus cardiac output, which can worsen maternal hypotension. Consequently, this can lead to decreased placental perfusion and reduce blood flow to the fetus, potentially causing fetal distress.

User Jan Drewniak
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