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Unrecognized pregnancy in the overdosed or poisoned patient
J S Jones1, K Dickson, S Carlson
1Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Butterworth Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|September 1, 1997
Abstract:
A 22-year-old woman was found in bed unresponsive and hypotensive after an apparent overdose. Subsequent workup in the emergency department identified a ruptured ectopic pregnancy and extensive hemoperitoneum. A significant delay occurred when emergency physicians excluded the possibility of pregnancy because of the patient's normal menstrual history. A qualitative serum or urine pregnancy test is recommended in all women of child-bearing age who present with poisoning or drug overdose.