Case Report: Perioperative management of a pregnant poly trauma patient for spine fixation surgery

Use of the prone position in pregnant women with COVID-19 or other health conditions

OBJECTIVE

to analyze, in the scientific literature, the knowledge available on the use of the prone position in pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 or other health conditions.

METHOD

an integrative literature review developed through the following guiding question: What is the scientific knowledge available on the use of the prone position in pregnant women with COVID-19 or other health conditions? The search for studies was carried out in eight databases.

RESULTS

using the prone position in pregnant women with Acute Respiratory Distress syndrome allowed for improvements in lung compliance and oxygenation. It also allowed reducing uterine compression on the maternal large vessels, and a reduction in blood pressure was observed in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia. The prone position was also safe in the surgical management of pregnant patients. In addition, the following conditions stood out as disadvantages related to the prone position in pregnant women: possibility of aortocaval compression, causing severe hypotension, and inability to easily monitor fetal status or to perform emergency Cesarean sections.

CONCLUSION

the prone position was considered safe, reliable and comfortable for its use in the clinical management of pregnant women, where specific care measures must be taken to avoid compression of gravid abdomen, as well as fetal monitoring is important to detect placental circulation impairment.

Maxillofacial trauma in a pregnant patient: Contemporary management principles with a case report & review of literature

Trauma during pregnancy deserves special attention because of its management objectives, i.e. well-being of both pregnant woman and foetus. Maxillofacial trauma directly affects the nutrition of foetus by interfering with the normal functions in a pregnant woman such as mouth opening, mastication and breathing. Hence early restitution of form and function of maxillofacial skeleton is essential. However, the gravid status is associated with numerous anatomical and physiological changes which present with clinical dilemma related to imaging and treatment. A careful scrutiny of the patient's systemic and gestational status is absolutely essential before, during and after instituting any interventional procedures. We present a case of bilateral condyle fracture in a 30-year-old pregnant woman in the third trimester (32 weeks). She was treated with inter maxillary fixation using orthodontic brackets & elastics. After successful restitution of occlusion, the patient was advised aggressive physiotherapy which ensured normal mouth opening. Two weeks later, the patient delivered uneventfully. The patient was followed up at one month and 3 month and demonstrated restitution of normal occlusion, mouth opening and lower facial height. This article aims at analyzing the contemporary principles in management of maxillofacial trauma in a pregnant woman and clarifying the common misconceptions.