Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- SECTION I NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION AND NEURODIAGNOSTIC TESTING
- SECTION II COMMON NEUROLOGICAL PRESENTATIONS
- SECTION III SPECIFIC NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
- SECTION IV NEUROLOGICAL TRAUMA
- SECTION V PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- SECTION VI PREGNANCY-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- 36 Neurological Emergencies of Pregnancy
- SECTION VII NEUROTOXICOLOGY
- SECTION VIII BRAIN DEATH
- Index
- References
36 - Neurological Emergencies of Pregnancy
from SECTION VI - PREGNANCY-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 August 2009
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- Contributors
- SECTION I NEUROLOGICAL EXAMINATION AND NEURODIAGNOSTIC TESTING
- SECTION II COMMON NEUROLOGICAL PRESENTATIONS
- SECTION III SPECIFIC NEUROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
- SECTION IV NEUROLOGICAL TRAUMA
- SECTION V PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- SECTION VI PREGNANCY-RELATED NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCIES
- 36 Neurological Emergencies of Pregnancy
- SECTION VII NEUROTOXICOLOGY
- SECTION VIII BRAIN DEATH
- Index
- References
Summary
When convulsions and altered sensorium occur in the pregnant patient past 20 weeks gestation or in the first 2 weeks postpartum, eclampsia is the prime suspect. Phenytoin can be used to control seizures that are resistant to magnesium. Phenytoin is also a good choice if a woman is identified as high risk for eclamptic seizures and needs treatment for a prolonged period of time. Adequate control of hypertension is essential for prevention of central nervous system (CNS) complications in these patients. All patients with eclampsia and many with preeclampsia need hospitalization. Seizures are one of the most frequent neurological disorders encountered in pregnancy and carry an increased risk to the fetus from trauma, hypoxia, and metabolic acidosis. Quite common during pregnancy, headache is generally benign, but it can occasionally herald serious pathology. Chorea gravidarum (CG) is chorea occurring during pregnancy. Myasthenia gravis (MG) worsens in 40% of women with pregnancy.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Principles and Practice of Emergency NeurologyHandbook for Emergency Physicians, pp. 359 - 370Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2003
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