Trauma in pregnancy: assessment and treatment

Women between the ages of 10 and 50 year-old have the potential for pregnancy; therefore this condition must be taken into consideration when a woman is examined in the Emergency Room after sustaining a traumatic event. Pregnancy produces significant physiologic and anatomic changes in every system of the female body. The evaluation of the traumatized pregnant patient, the approach, and the interpretation of the diagnostic tests results must be accompanied by the full knowledge of all changes that take place during pregnancy. In the same context, although the physician treating a pregnant trauma victim must remember that there are two patients, the treatment priorities are the same as for the non-pregnant trauma patient. The best initial treatment for the fetus is the optimum resuscitation of the mother. A thorough exam should take place to discover unique conditions that might be present in any pregnant patient such as blunt or penetrating injury to the uterus, placental abruption, amniotic fluid embolism, isoimmunization, and premature rupture of membranes. The obstetrician should be present at all times and be considered a part of the trauma team in the evaluation and treatment of a pregnant trauma patient.