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Traumatic injuries to the pregnant patient: a critical literature review

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Abstract

Introduction

Trauma during pregnancy is the leading non-obstetrical cause of maternal death and a significant public health burden. This study reviews the most common causes of trauma during pregnancy, morbidity, and mortality, and the impact upon perinatal outcomes associated with trauma, providing a management approach to pregnant trauma patients.

Materials and methods

A systematic review of the current literature from January 2006 to July 2016 was performed.

Results

Fifty-one articles were identified, including a total of 95,949 patients. Motor vehicle crash was the most frequent cause of blunt trauma, followed by falls, assault both domestic and interpersonal violence, and penetrating injuries (gunshot and stab wounds).

Conclusions

Trauma in pregnant women is associated with high rates of adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Knowledge of the mechanism of injury is important to identify the potential injuries and the complexity of the management of these patients. As in all traumatic events, prevention is of paramount importance.

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Fig. 1

Modified from Petrone P, Tillou A. Gynecologic injuries: trauma to gravid and nongravid uterus and female genitalia. In: Current therapy of trauma and surgical critical care. (Elsevier, Philadelphia, 2016), pp 401–407

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, NYU Winthrop Hospital, 222 Station Plaza North, Suite 603, Mineola, Long Island, NY, 11501, USA

    P. Petrone, P. Jiménez-Morillas & A. Axelrad

  2. Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

    P. Petrone

  3. New York Medical College, Valhalla, USA

    P. Petrone & C. P. Marini

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  1. P. Petrone
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Correspondence to P. Petrone.

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Patrizio Petrone, Patricia Jiménez Morillas, Alexander Axelrad, and Corrado P. Marini declare that they have not conflict of interest.

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This research consisted of literature review only, and, therefore, did not involve human participants or animals.

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Petrone, P., Jiménez-Morillas, P., Axelrad, A. et al. Traumatic injuries to the pregnant patient: a critical literature review. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 45, 383–392 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-017-0839-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-017-0839-x

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