Question

On arrival at the emergency department, a client tells the nurse that she suspects that she may be pregnant but has been having a small amount of bleeding and has severe pain in the lower abdomen. The client's blood pressure is 70/50 mm Hg and her pulse rate is 120 bpm. The nurse notifies the physician immediately because of the possibility of: a) Ectopic pregnancy. b) Abruptio placentae. c) Gestational trophoblastic disease. d) Complete abortion.

Answer 1

The symptoms presented by the client suggest the possibility of an ectopic pregnancy, as it can result in severe bleeding and pain. Other conditions can also cause these symptoms, but the extreme pain and abnormal vital signs lean more towards ectopic pregnancy.

Step-by-step explanation:

The symptoms described by the client, such as suspected pregnancy, small amount of bleeding, severe pain in the lower abdomen, plus a low blood pressure of 70/50 mm Hg and a high pulse rate of 120 bpm, are indicative of an Ectopic pregnancy. This condition occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, usually in the fallopian tube, and starts to grow there, which can result in severe and life-threatening bleeding. Abruptio placentae, Gestational trophoblastic disease, and Complete abortion are other possible explanations for these symptoms, yet the severe pain and abnormal vital signs point more toward an Ectopic pregnancy.

Learn more about Ectopic pregnancy