What is the primary concern for an unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless pregnant woman?

The primary concern for an unresponsive, apneic, and pulseless pregnant woman is ensuring proper CPR and uterine displacement. In the context of pregnancy, it's crucial to consider the anatomical and physiological changes that affect both the mother and fetus. When a pregnant woman is in cardiac arrest, effective chest compressions are essential for restoring circulation. However, the weight of the uterus can compress major blood vessels, particularly the inferior vena cava, which can impede venous return to the heart and reduce the effectiveness of CPR.

Uterine displacement, typically achieved by tilting the woman to her left side or manually displacing the uterus to the left, helps to alleviate this compression. This maneuver increases venous return and improves blood flow during resuscitation efforts. Proper CPR technique, including high-quality chest compressions and early defibrillation if indicated, is also vital to increase the chances of maternal and fetal survival.

While ventilation using a bag-mask device is important, it would be less effective if circulation isn't restored first. Immediate transport without resuscitation neglects the critical need for initiating CPR right away. Displacing the uterus to the right is not recommended since left lateral displacement is the standard approach to manage the effects of a growing uterus on circulation during