Is it possible to diagnose pre-eclampsia in a prehospital setting?

In the prehospital setting, diagnosing pre-eclampsia is challenging and typically not feasible due to the complexity of the condition. Pre-eclampsia is defined by hypertension and often accompanied by other clinical features, such as proteinuria or signs of end-organ dysfunction. While an elevated blood pressure reading can indicate potential pre-eclampsia, it is not definitive on its own.

A thorough evaluation, including laboratory tests to assess for proteinuria and organ function, is necessary for an accurate diagnosis. These tests require hospital facilities and cannot be performed in the prehospital environment, where resources and diagnostic tools are limited. Therefore, the assertion that it requires hospital facilities for a full evaluation is the basis for the correct answer.

In contrast, simply observing symptoms or performing a physical examination may raise suspicion, but they do not provide a conclusive diagnosis without further testing.