Prehospital Management of the Pregnant Trauma Patient

Obstetrical care in the United States is in crisis. As timely access to obstetric care becomes increasingly less common in the United States, the role of an emergency medical services clinician in the care of a pregnant trauma patient has become increasingly important, particularly in rural or austere environments with extended times to arrival at a trauma center with capacity to provide definitive obstetrical care. In this review, we provide considerations for the primary management of pregnant trauma patients in a prehospital setting by reviewing the essentials of immediate care by organ system, with particular emphasis on airway support and medication considerations in pregnancy.