Pregnancy is a significant event in a woman’s life. It warrants a thoughtful emergency department (ED) evaluation with careful attention to avoid pitfalls that may pose unexpected consequences. The differential of vaginal bleeding in gravid women varies immensely depending primarily on the stage of the pregnancy. Regardless of the cause, any gravid patient with vaginal bleeding can be emotionally upset.
Vaginal bleeding during the first 3 months of pregnancy is a common event. It is important that emergency physicians recognize patients with vaginal bleeding who may have an adverse outcome if misdiagnosed or not treated appropriately in the ED. Patients may not always recognize that they are pregnant, so it is critical to order a pregnancy test on any woman of childbearing age presenting to an ED with vaginal bleeding, spotting, or lower abdominal pain. Some diagnoses are serious and…
