Traumatic injuries to the pregnant patient: a critical literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Trauma during pregnancy is the leading non-obstetrical cause of maternal death and a significant public health burden. This study reviews the most common causes of trauma during pregnancy, morbidity, and mortality, and the impact upon perinatal outcomes associated with trauma, providing a management approach to pregnant trauma patients.

Materials and methods: A systematic review of the current literature from January 2006 to July 2016 was performed.

Results: Fifty-one articles were identified, including a total of 95,949 patients. Motor vehicle crash was the most frequent cause of blunt trauma, followed by falls, assault both domestic and interpersonal violence, and penetrating injuries (gunshot and stab wounds).

Conclusions: Trauma in pregnant women is associated with high rates of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Knowledge of the mechanism of injury is important to identify the potential injuries and the complexity of the management of these patients. As in all traumatic events, prevention is of paramount importance.

Keywords: Blunt; Fetal injuries; Penetrating; Pregnancy; Trauma.