Blunt Trauma In Pregnancy
...- 67% related to automobile accidents.
Fetal mortality after maternal blunt trauma is 34 - 38%. The two major causes of fetal death after maternal blunt trauma are: Maternal shock/death, and placental abruption.
The pregnant trauma patient presents a unique challenge because care must be provided for two patients, the mother and the fetus. It is vital that the nurse know and understand the anatomical and physiological changes that occur during pregnancy. She must be aware of these changes, and how they can mask or mimic injury, and very importantly that fetal distress or loss can occur even when the mother has incurred no abdominal injuries.
Regardless of the apparent severity of injury in blunt trauma, all pregnant women should be evaluated in a medical setting.
Only viable fetuses are monitored, because no obstetric intervention will alter the outcome of a pre-viable fetus. Determination of fetal viability is subject to institutional variation: an estimated gestational age of 20 - 26 weeks and an estimated fetal weight of 500g. Are commonly used thresholds of viability. Therefore, patients who have minor trauma and who are at less than 20 weeks gestation do not require specific intervention or monitoring. All pregnant women beyond 20 weeks' gestation should undergo a minimum of 4 - 24 hours, and in some cases as long as 48 hours of monitoring. Fetal distress may be the first sign of maternal hemodynamic compromise and fetal distress, and to identify possible placenta abruption.
Resuscitation of the more serious trauma patient must focus on the mother because the most common cause of fetal death is maternal shock or death. It is important to remember that the mother will maintain her vital signs at the expense of the fetus. Because plasma volume is increased by 50% and the mother is able to shunt blood away from the uterus, maternal...
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