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BACKGROUND: This cross-sectional pilot study aimed to evaluate awareness and management strategies among obstetricians and surgeons in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for round ligament varicosities (RLV) during pregnancy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An online questionnaire was distributed through convenience sampling to surgeons and obstetricians across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It assessed demographics, clinical knowledge, experience in diagnosing and managing groin lumps during pregnancy, and engagement in continuing medical education. RESULTS: Of the 39 participants, 56.41% (n = 22) were obstetricians and 43.59% (n = 17) were surgeons, with the majority having 5–10 years of practice (35.90%, n = 14). Groin hernia was reported as the most frequent diagnosis for groin lumps during pregnancy (43.59%, n = 17), whereas only 7.69% (n = 3) identified RLV, indicating a significant gap in recognizing RLV. Furthermore, 35.90% (n = 14) recognized RLV as a differential diagnosis, but only 25.64% (n = 10) were aware of its management. CONCLUSION: RLV, which is more common than hernias during pregnancy, is often misdiagnosed due to its similar presentation. Accurate differentiation, often achieved through ultrasound, is crucial as management strategies significantly differ. This study underscores the need for enhanced awareness and training among obstetricians and surgeons to accurately diagnose and manage RLV. The observed knowledge gaps highlight the critical role of continuous medical education in improving patient care. These findings will guide a larger study to assess practices across the Kingdom and develop national recommendations for the management of RLV and groin hernias during pregnancy.

Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with massive pulmonary embolism are common and unspecific. An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our department with severe respiratory insufficiency and hemodynamic instability. Abnormal high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I and ST-segmental elevation in II, III, aVF, and V3–V6 were present on admission. Segmental motion abnormalities of the left ventricular wall were not detectable in echocardiography. Instead, the presence of a right ventricular strain raised the suspicion of a lung artery embolization. The diagnosis was confirmed by a computed tomography of the chest, and a thrombolytic therapy with 100 mg recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) was administered. Though respiratory and hemodynamic stability were established, electromechanical disassociation suddenly occurred 30 hours later and the patient died. Electrocardiographic changes mimicking a myocardial infarction may occur after a massive pulmonary embolism and constitute a diagnostic challenge for clinicians being active in the field of emergency medicine and intensive care.