Question

If your patient complains of excruciating abdominal pain with the onset of labor and shows signs of shock without external hemorrhage, What should you consider?

1) Uterine rupture
2) Placental abruption
3) Ectopic pregnancy
4) Appendicitis

Answer 1

When a patient experiences severe abdominal pain with the onset of labor and signs of shock without external bleeding, the two most critical conditions to consider are uterine rupture and placental abruption. These are serious emergencies requiring immediate medical attention.

Step-by-step explanation:

If a patient complains of excruciating abdominal pain with the onset of labor and shows signs of shock without external hemorrhage, a healthcare professional should consider several possibilities, the most serious being:

1. Uterine rupture
2. Placental abruption
3. Ectopic pregnancy
4. Appendicitis

Uterine rupture is a medical emergency where the uterine wall tears during labor, which can lead to significant pain and bleeding, and is a life-threatening situation for both the mother and the baby.

Placental abruption is when the placenta detaches from the uterine wall before childbirth, which can result in pain and also lead to fetal distress and maternal shock due to internal bleeding.

Ectopic pregnancy is less likely in this situation since it typically occurs earlier in pregnancy, not at the onset of labor. Appendicitis, while a possible cause of abdominal pain, would not typically be associated with the onset of labor or signs of shock in the absence of other symptoms.