Trauma in pregnancy.

The treatment of pregnant patients with traumatic injuries requires knowledge of the fundamentals of general trauma management as well as the specific anatomic and physiologic changes brought about by pregnancy. This article provides a review of the spectrum of trauma prevention and treatment in pregnant women, from counseling strategies that can be used during any emergency department visit to a step-by-step evaluation protocol for patients with trauma during pregnancy and the severe injuries that might be encountered by providers during the treatment of these women, including maternal cardiopulmonary arrest and the perimortem cesarean section.