Your pregnant patient is in active labor.She has been lying on her back throughout her labor and is experiencing signs and symptoms of shock.Her vital signs are pulse rate 118,respirations 22,blood pressure 96/62,and skin cool and diaphoretic.The BEST way to treat her is to:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This patient is likely experiencing vena caval syndrome, which is caused by the weight of the gravid uterus compressing the inferior vena cava, reducing blood return to the heart and potentially leading to shock. The BEST way to treat this in a field setting is to displace the uterus laterally by placing a rolled blanket or other item under the left hip. This can help alleviate the compression and improve blood return to the heart, helping to stabilize the patient. Giving fluids to drink, elevating the legs, and covering with a blanket may all have some benefit, but they are not likely to be as effective as lateral displacement of the uterus in this scenario.

Your Pregnant Patient Is in Active Labor