A–Z Glossary

Pulmonary embolism

A blood clot in the lungs that can cause sudden shortness of breath, chest pain, or collapse and is a medical emergency.

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Emergency evaluation and hospital admission criteria

Emergency evaluation and hospital admission criteria

Why emergency evaluation is different in pregnancy Pregnancy alters blood volume, heart rate, respiratory mechanics, gastrointestinal function, and pain patterns. Those physiologic changes can make it harder to tell whether a symptom is benign or the early sign of a serious event. For example, nausea may be common in early pregnancy, but persistent vomiting with […]