Trauma in the obstetrical patient

Trauma in pregnancy: A narrative review of the current literature

INTRODUCTION

Trauma accounts for nearly half of all deaths of pregnant women. Pregnant women have distinct physiologic and anatomic characteristics which complicate their management following major trauma.

OBJECTIVE

This paper comprises a narrative review of the most recent literature informing the management of pregnant trauma patients.

DISCUSSION

The incidence of trauma during pregnancy is 6-8%. The focus of clinical assessment must be on the mother, starting with the primary survey. During airway management, clinicians should consider early intubation if necessary and utilize gastric tubes to minimize the risk of aspiration. Pregnant women experience progesterone-mediated hyperventilation, and normal PaCO2 levels may portend imminent respiratory failure. Clinicians should utilize left lateral tilt in hypotensive pregnant women to displace the uterus off the inferior vena cava. Ultrasonography is an attractive imaging modality for pregnant women which is specific for ruling in intraabdominal hemorrhage but not sufficiently sensitive to exclude this diagnosis. Clinicians should not hesitate to order computed tomography imaging in unstable patients if there is diagnostic ambiguity. Cardiotocographic monitoring simultaneously assesses uterine contractions and fetal heart rate and should last at least 4 h for pregnant women following even minor abdominal trauma if their fetus has achieved viable gestational age (approximately 24 weeks). In the event of cardiac arrest, peri-mortem cesarean section may improve outcomes for the mother and fetus alike. Unique specific complications include uterine rupture and placental abruption, which require emergent resuscitation and obstetrics consultation for definitive management. Emergency clinicians should maintain a low threshold for transfer to a tertiary care center given correlations between even isolated and relatively minor traumatic injuries with adverse fetal and maternal outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

Trauma is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in pregnant women. Emergency clinicians must understand the evaluation and management of pregnant trauma patients.

Trauma in pregnancy: A review of the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation database

Objective

The goal of this study is to determine if injury severity score (ISS) of ≥9 and systolic blood pressure (SBP) predict poor maternal/pregnancy outcomes in blunt and penetrating trauma, respectively.

Methods

The Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation database was used to identify pregnant trauma patients. Blunt trauma patients were analyzed with regard to ISS, while penetrating trauma patients were analyzed to determine whether SBP < 90 mmHg was predictive of poor maternal outcome.

Results

Patients with severe blunt injury (ISS ≥ 9) due to motor vehicle accident were less likely to wear seatbelts (51% vs. 63%, p = 0.005), and delivery was required in 17% of these patients as compared to 6% of the less severely injured, and only 6% of those were vaginal deliveries. Severely injured patients were discharged home 68% of the time and 6% died compared to less severely injured patients of which 83% were discharged home and <1% died; all other patients required discharge to a rehabilitation facility. Patients with penetrating trauma and SBP < 90 mmHg on arrival were more likely to require delivery (35% vs. 5%, p < 0.001) and were 14 times more likely to die (58% vs. 4%, p < 0.001) when compared to the normotensive group.

Conclusion

ISS ≥ 9 and SBP < 90 mmHg are predictors for poor outcomes after trauma during pregnancy. Severely injured blunt trauma patients often require surgery and delivery. Patients who present with SBP < 90 after penetrating trauma are more likely to deliver and are 14 times more likely to die.

The impact of minor trauma on pregnancy

Purpose

To determine the impact of a single episode of minor trauma during pregnancy on maternal and fetal outcomes.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women who experienced minor trauma at ≥24 weeks gestation between 2004 and 2014. The subjects who experienced minor trauma (minor trauma group) were matched by gestational age at the time of minor trauma, body mass index, and age to a cohort of women who did not experience trauma in pregnancy (control group). The primary obstetrical outcome was preterm delivery and the primary neonatal outcomes were APGAR scores and neonatal intensive care unit admission.

Results

There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to demographics or other risk factors for preterm delivery. Average gestational age at the time of delivery was 39 weeks regardless of whether a woman experienced minor trauma. Preterm delivery occurred more often in the control group (11.8% versus 7.9%, p = 0.0428) as did the rate of neonatal intensive care unit admissions (8.6% versus 5%, p = 0.0273). A subgroup analysis was performed excluding patients with a medically indicated delivery and there was no difference in the rate of preterm delivery (6.4% in the control group, 4% in the minor trauma group, p-value 0.9052). Among women with a spontaneous preterm delivery, the rates of preterm labor (3.0% control versus 2.0% minor trauma, p-value 0.75) and preterm premature rupture of membranes were found to be similar between the two groups (3.8% control versus 2.0% minor trauma PPROM, p-value 0.75).

Conclusions

One episode of minor trauma in pregnancy does not increase the risk for preterm delivery, premature rupture of membranes, or poor neonatal outcomes.