Postpartum emergencies.

Included among the challenges that the emergency physician may encounter is care of the postpartum patient. A number of disorders such as postpartum hemorrhage, endometritis, and eclampsia are unique to the puerperal patient, although other disorders, such as cardiomyopathy and pulmonary embolus, may be seen with an increased frequency in patients after delivery. A knowledge of the presenting features, required diagnostic studies, and recommended treatments will allow prompt and effective management.