Chapter 12 - Trauma In Pregnancy

Question 1

What gestation does the uterus start to grow beyond the pelvis

Answer 1

12th week

Question 2

Do we worry about the bowel in blunt abdominal trauma

Answer 2

As the bowel lies more cephalad it is relatively protected in blunt trauma by the uterus and fetus

Question 3

Do we worry about the penetrating trauma to the upper abdomen

Answer 3

Yes as bowel lies more cephalad so complex intestinal injury can occur

Question 4

What can happen if amniotic fluid enters the maternal circulation

Answer 4

Amniotic fluid embolus

DIC

Question 5

When do we worry about skull fracture or ICH in the fetus

Answer 5

Pelvis injury in late gestation

Question 6

What can happen as a result of abrupt decrease in maternal intravascular volume

Answer 6

Increase in uterine vascular resistance reducing feral oxygenation

Question 7

What might be worried about in pregnant ladies with a normal PaCo2

Answer 7

Impending respiratory failure

Pregnant ladies have lower PaCO2 due to increased tidal volume and increased minute volume

Question 8

What happens to pregnant ladies heart rate

Answer 8

Heart rate can increase

Question 9

What happens to pregnant ladies cardiac output

Answer 9

Cardiac output increases

Question 10

What happens to pregnant ladies blood pressure

Answer 10

Systolic and diastolic pressures can drop