Student study notes from paramedic coursework (2023 to 2024), not medical advice. Verify clinical values against current references and your local protocols.
| EMS etiologies | Setting: OB/GYN |
Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder characterized by the onset of high blood pressure and protein in the urine after the 20th week of pregnancy.
Eclampsia is a severe complication of preeclampsia, characterized by seizures and/or coma in a pregnant woman with preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia is thought to be caused by improper placental development due to a problem with the vascular system supplying it. Poor blood flow and damage to the blood vessels, are believed to cause high blood pressure and other symptoms across multiple systems.
Eclampsia is life-threatening for both the mother and the baby.
Preeclampsia includes a number of symptoms including:
Eclampsia presents as the onset of seizures or coma in a pregnant woman with preeclampsia.
Preeclampsia generally clears for the mother around the time of the delivery of the baby.
With mild preeclampsia, the mother and fetus need to be closely monitored. If needed, the mother can be given medication (typically labetalol, nifedipine, or methyldopa) to control blood pressure and prevent seizures. A target delivery at 37 weeks is planned.
Severe preeclampsia: If the mother’s condition is severe or the baby is in distress, delivery may be necessary, even if the baby is not full term. The mother may be given medication to control blood pressure and prevent seizures, and the baby may need to be delivered by cesarean section.
Eclampsia: If the mother experiences a seizure, she will be given medication to control the seizure and prevent further seizures. Delivery of the baby will be necessary, either by induction of labor or cesarean section.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554392/#:~:text=Magnesium%20sulfate%20should%20be%20given,hour%20should%20subsequently%20be%20administered.