Pre-eclampsia *

Objectives (EM)

1. In a pregnant patient who presents with unexplained symptoms (e.g., abdominal pain, altered sensorium, headache) consider the diagnosis of pre-eclampsia even if the blood pressure is normal.
2. In a pregnant patient who may have pre-eclampsia, assess in a structured fashion (e.g., risk factors, symptoms, signs, change in BP from baseline, blood tests) to try to rule in or rule out the diagnosis expeditiously.
3. In a pregnant patient with non-specific symptoms such as nausea and vomiting or abdominal pain, rule out HELLP syndrome before diagnosing any other cause.
4. In a patient with pre-eclampsia, start initial management (e.g., BP management, seizure precautions), monitor the mother and fetus for complications, and ensure urgent evaluation for the timing and manner of delivery.