Trauma in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether the severity of maternal injury or other maternal and fetal variables will predict the outcome of pregnancy in the injured pregnant patient.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

In this retrospective review of pregnant patients hospitalized at a level 1 trauma center from 1986 to 1996, we analyzed the maternal Injury Severity Score, maternal mortality, fetal-neonatal mortality, maternal hypotension, and fetal heart rate.

RESULTS

Sixty-one pregnant women were identified who were hospitalized after trauma. The mean +/- SD maternal age was 26.6 +/- 6.6 years. The distribution of trauma per gestational age was 21%, 20%, and 59% for the first, second, and third trimester, respectively. The most common mechanism of injury was motor vehicle crashes. Long-term pregnancy outcome was available in 53 patients (87%). There was 1 maternal death. Fetal-neonatal death occurred in 8 (15%) of 53 pregnancies. Most maternal physiologic variables were not predictors of pregnancy outcome. We were unable to detect a difference in the distribution of Injury Severity Scores between viable and nonviable pregnancies. However, maternal hypotension and low fetal heart rate were common in nonviable pregnancies (P = .02).

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal hypotension and fetal heart rate are potential predictors of pregnancy outcome after trauma. Other maternal and fetal physiologic variables are poor measures of fetal well-being and are unable to predict fetal outcome. Fetal-neonatal death does not necessarily correlate with severity of maternal injury.