1887
Volume 2022 Number 1
  • ISSN: 1999-7086
  • EISSN: 1999-7094

Abstract

The evaluation of the pregnant trauma patient presents unique challenges. There are two patients potentially at risk; the mother and the fetus who both require evaluation and management.1 Physiological changes like ligaments laxity, weight gain, and changes in the center of gravity make pregnant women at increased risk for trauma.2 Knowing the other physiological changes is crucial for the adapted trauma management in pregnancy.3 This case study reports on major trauma in a pregnant woman that was under-evaluated at first assessment leading to maternal and fetal mortality. A 30-year-old pregnant lady (36 weeks) presented to a community hospital following a motor vehicle accident. She had sutures for a facial wound then she was sent home. A few hours later she presented to a tertiary hospital with hemoptysis. A Focused Assessment with Sonography in Trauma (FAST) ultrasound showed possible hepatic and splenic injuries and fetal death so she was transferred urgently to the operating room. The patient underwent laparotomy for the repair of the injured abdominal organs, in addition to a C-section complicated by uterine atony. After the failure of medical management, she underwent a hysterectomy then she progressed quickly into Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation (DIC) and passed away a few hours later. Trauma in pregnancy should always be taken seriously to avoid under-evaluation of major injuries. Basic principles of advanced trauma life support (ATLS) were not followed in this case and major injuries were missed. Patients in high-speed collisions should be referred to a trauma center instead of a community hospital in order not to lose the time window of the golden hour.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2022.qhc.29
2021-12-05
2024-03-28
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/jemtac/2022/1/jemtac.2022.qhc.29.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2022.qhc.29&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

  1. Greco PS, Day LJ, Pearlman MD. Guidance for Evaluation and Management of Blunt Abdominal Trauma in Pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol. 2019 Dec; 134:(6):1343–1357.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Jain V, Chari R, Maslovitz S, Farine D; Maternal Fetal Medicine Committee, et al. Guidelines for the Management of a Pregnant Trauma Patient. J Obstet Gynaecol Can. 2015 Jun; 37:(6):553–74.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Irving T, Menon R, Ciantar E. Trauma during pregnancy. BJA Educ. 2021 Jan; 21:(1):10–19.
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.5339/jemtac.2022.qhc.29
Loading
  • Article Type: Conference Abstract
Keyword(s): C-sectionGuidelinesPeri-mortemPregnancy and Trauma
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error