Citation

Mendez-Figueroa H, Dahlke JD, Vrees RA, Rouse DJ. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 2013; 209(1): 1-10.

Affiliation

Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Infants' Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI. Electronic address: HMendezfigueroa@wihri.org.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.ajog.2013.01.021

PMID

23333541

Abstract

We reviewed recent data on the prevalence, risk factors, complications and management of trauma during pregnancy. Using the terms "trauma" and "pregnancy" along with specified mechanisms of injury, we queried the Pubmed database for studies reported from January 1 (st), 1990 to May 1 (st), 2012. Studies with the largest number of patients for a given injury type and which were population-based and/or prospective were included. Case reports and case series were used only when more robust studies were lacking. A total of 1,164 abstracts were reviewed and 225 met criteria for inclusion. Domestic violence/intimate partner violence and motor vehicle crashes are the predominant causes of reported trauma during pregnancy. Management of trauma during pregnancy is dictated by its severity and should be initially geared towards maternal stabilization. Minor trauma can often be safely evaluated with simple diagnostic modalities. Pregnancy should not lead to under diagnosis or under treatment of trauma due to unfounded fears of fetal effects. More studies are required to elucidate the safest and most cost-effective strategies for the management of trauma in pregnancy.

Language: en