A 30-year-old female presents with sudden severe abdominal pain, dizziness, and a positive home pregnancy test. She is tachycardic, and her blood pressure is dropping. What are the potential causes and next steps?
This patient's symptoms, along with a positive pregnancy test, raise concerns about a ruptured ectopic pregnancy, a life-threatening condition where the pregnancy implants outside the uterus, most commonly in the fallopian tube. Immediate steps include stabilizing the patient, starting intravenous fluids, and obtaining a stat ultrasound to identify the location of the pregnancy. If a ruptured ectopic pregnancy is confirmed, emergency surgery is necessary.