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Initial Imaging of Pregnant Patients in the Trauma Bay—Discussion and Review of Presentations at a Level-1 Trauma Centre

Authors :
Roisin MacDermott
Ferco H. Berger
Andrea Phillips
Jason A. Robins
Michael E. O’Keeffe
Rawan Abu Mughli
David B. MacLean
Grace Liu
Heather Heipel
Avery B. Nathens
Sadia Raheez Qamar
Source :
Diagnostics, Vol 14, Iss 3, p 276 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2024.

Abstract

Trauma is the leading non-obstetric cause of maternal and fetal mortality and affects an estimated 5–7% of all pregnancies. Pregnant women, thankfully, are a small subset of patients presenting in the trauma bay, but they do have distinctive physiologic and anatomic changes. These increase the risk of certain traumatic injuries, and the gravid uterus can both be the primary site of injury and mask other injuries. The primary focus of the initial management of the pregnant trauma patient should be that of maternal stabilization and treatment since it directly affects the fetal outcome. Diagnostic imaging plays a pivotal role in initial traumatic injury assessment and should not deviate from normal routine in the pregnant patient. Radiographs and focused assessment with sonography in the trauma bay will direct the use of contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT), which remains the cornerstone to evaluate the potential presence of further management-altering injuries. A thorough understanding of its risks and benefits is paramount, especially in the pregnant patient. However, like any other trauma patient, if evaluation for injury with CT is indicated, it should not be denied to a pregnant trauma patient due to fear of radiation exposure.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
14030276 and 20754418
Volume :
14
Issue :
3
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Diagnostics
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.58410a376ad94200aad57c2a90f58f4c
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics14030276