Pregnancy and trauma: What you need to know

ABSTRACT Nearly 4% of pregnant patients have an injury-related visit to the emergency department during their pregnancy. There are important physiologic changes that occur during pregnancy that make managing pregnant trauma patients different from the standard management of a nonpregnant patient. This review discusses these changes and the initial assessment, laboratory, and imaging workups for the pregnant trauma patient. In addition, management of specific injuries in pregnancy including pelvic fractures, hemorrhagic shock, and postpartum hemorrhage are reviewed as well as key points regarding resuscitative hysterotomy and fetal support that trauma surgeons should be aware of.