Treatment of trauma in pregnancy

Abstract

Trauma is the most common non-obstetric cause of death among pregnant women, affecting 5-7% of them. In the case of an accident, all first-aid efforts should take into account both the mother and the fetus. In most cases, treating a pregnant woman does not differ from the ITLS (International Trauma Life Support) principles. However, one has to consider the possibility of pregnancy-characteristic injuries as well as the fact that physiological pregnancy can mask some life and health threatening symptoms.