What is a potential consequence of placing a pregnant patient in a supine position during the third trimester?

What is a potential consequence of placing a pregnant patient in a supine position during the third trimester?

• A. Results in spontaneous urinary incontinence if the bladder is full.
• B. Might decrease the amount of blood that returns to the heart.
• C. Recommended if the patient has severe abdominal discomfort.
• D. Often causes hypotension secondary to cardiac compression.

Answer: (B)

Placing a pregnant patient in a supine position during the third trimester can indeed decrease the amount of blood that returns to the heart, which is a critical factor to consider. As the uterus grows, it can exert pressure on the inferior vena cava, a major vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body back to the heart. When a pregnant individual is in a supine position, the weight of the uterus can compress this vein, leading to reduced venous return. This can result in decreased cardiac output and, potentially, symptoms like dizziness or fainting. The decreased blood return to the heart can also lead to challenges in blood flow to vital organs, which is particularly concerning in emergencies. Understanding this mechanism is important for EMTs and healthcare providers to ensure the safety and well-being of both the patient and the fetus. In the context of other options, while urinary incontinence or hypotension can occur in various situations, they are not direct consequences of the supine position specifically during the third trimester as much as the impact on venous return and subsequent cardiovascular effects. Recommended positions for pregnant patients, especially in advanced stages, often include lateral positioning (particularly on the left side) to mitigate these risks.

Placing a pregnant patient in a supine position during the third trimester can indeed decrease the amount of blood that returns to the heart, which is a critical factor to consider. As the uterus grows, it can exert pressure on the inferior vena cava, a major vein that carries deoxygenated blood from the lower body back to the heart. When a pregnant individual is in a supine position, the weight of the uterus can compress this vein, leading to reduced venous return. This can result in decreased cardiac output and, potentially, symptoms like dizziness or fainting.

The decreased blood return to the heart can also lead to challenges in blood flow to vital organs, which is particularly concerning in emergencies. Understanding this mechanism is important for EMTs and healthcare providers to ensure the safety and well-being of both the patient and the fetus.

In the context of other options, while urinary incontinence or hypotension can occur in various situations, they are not direct consequences of the supine position specifically during the third trimester as much as the impact on venous return and subsequent cardiovascular effects. Recommended positions for pregnant patients, especially in advanced stages, often include lateral positioning (particularly on the left side) to mitigate these risks.