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. 2019:59:201-204.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2019.05.034. Epub 2019 May 28.

Prenatal gunshot wound, a rare cause of maternal and fetus trauma, a case report

Gabriel A Molina  1 , William G Aguayo  2 , J Marcelo Cevallos  3 , Patricio F Gálvez  4 , Juan F Calispa  5 , Kevin A Arroyo  6 , Lenin J Guzmán  7 , María M Cobo  8 , Bernardo M Gutierrez  9 , Ronald T Toapanta  10 , María M Briceño  11
Affiliations

Prenatal gunshot wound, a rare cause of maternal and fetus trauma, a case report

Gabriel A Molina et al. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2019.

Abstract

Background: Gunshot wounds in pregnant women, although rare, represent an important cause of fetal and maternal mortality. Understanding the mechanism of injury is essential to identify the possible injuries and to adequately manage the complexity of these emergency scenarios.

Case presentation: We present a case of a 27-year-old woman and her 37 week fetus who were the victims of a gunshot wound. The trajectory of the bullet injured not only the mother but also the developing fetus. An emergency c-section was performed and the bullet was removed from the infant's abdomen. The two patients fully recovered and on follow up controls both patients are doing well.

Conclusions: Trauma events, and particularly gunshot wounds in pregnant women requires promptly and adequate intervention. Coordinated efforts from multidisciplinary clinical teams are needed as well as the appropriate training in maternal and infant resuscitative measures and surgical techniques.

Keywords: Case report; Fetal trauma; Gunshot wound; Maternal trauma.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
(A): Bullet entrance wound, in the lower left abdomen. (B): Emergency cesarean section. (C): Penetrating entry wound in the infant’s right thoracoabdominal region.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
A: Lung laceration to the infant's right lung. (B): Bowel lesion found in the infant's abdomen (C): Bullet found near the root of the infant's mesentery between the intestinal loops.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Thoracic drainage and surgical wound in the infant.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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