TY - JOUR PY - 2015// TI - Are pregnant women safer in motor vehicle accidents? JO - Journal of Perinatal Medicine A1 - Miller, Netanella A1 - Biron-Shental, Tal A1 - Peleg, Kobi A1 - Fishman, Ami A1 - Olsha, Oded A1 - Givon, Adi A1 - Kessel, Boris SP - 329 EP - 332 VL - 44 IS - 3 N2 - OBJECTIVE: Motor vehicle accidents (MVAs) are a major incidental cause of pregnancy-associated maternal deaths in the US. The goal of this research was to evaluate the incidence, risks, and fetal and maternal outcomes of pregnant women involved in MVAs. In addition, we examined the relationship between the injury severity score (ISS) and car seat location in pregnant and non-pregnant women.

METHODS: This involved a retrospective cohort study of female patients who were involved in MVAs and hospitalized between the years 2006 and 2013. Data were collected from the Israeli National Trauma Registry. Severity and outcomes of pregnant and non-pregnant women with blunt trauma were compared.

RESULTS: In this study, 3794 pregnant and 3441 non-pregnant patients aged 18-40 years were analyzed. The majority of pregnant patients were drivers (n=2515, 67%) as opposed to passengers (n=1279, 33%). Pregnant patients had lower ISS than non-pregnant patients (P<0.001). Out of these pregnant patients, 38 (1%) had adverse maternal-fetal pregnancy outcomes, including (1) placental abruption 0.1% and (2) miscarriage (0.2%). One pregnant patient died (0.03%) compared with 32 (0.93%) of the non-pregnant patients (P<0.0001). A significant negative correlation between gestational age and spontaneous abortion was found (P<0.009).

CONCLUSIONS: The severity of injury and the mortality rate of pregnant patients involved in MVAs are significantly lower compared with non-pregnant patients. Pregnant drivers had a significantly lower severity of trauma compared with pregnant passengers.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 0300-5577 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/jpm-2015-0163 ID - ref1 ER -