Outcomes of severely injured pregnant trauma patients: a multicenter analysis.

Nearly 10% of pregnant women suffer traumatic injury. Clinical outcomes for pregnant trauma patients (PTPs) with severe injuries have not been well studied. We sought to describe outcomes for PTPs presenting with severe injuries, hypothesizing that PTPs with severe injuries will have higher rates of complications and mortality compared to less injured PTPs. A post-hoc analysis of a multi-institutional retrospective study at 12 Level-I/II trauma centers was performed. Patients were stratified into severely injured (injury severity score [ISS] > 15) and not severely injured (ISS < 15) and compared with bivariate analyses. From 950 patients, 32 (3.4%) had severe injuries. Compared to non-severely injured PTPs, severely injured PTPs were of similar maternal age but had younger gestational age (21 vs 26 weeks, p = 0.009). Penetrating trauma was more common in the severely injured cohort (15.6% vs 1.4%, p < 0.001). The severely injured cohort more often underwent an operation (68.8% vs 3.8%, p < 0.001), including a hysterectomy (6.3% vs 0.3%, p < 0.001). The severely injured group had higher rates of complications (34.4% vs 0.9%, p < 0.001), mortality (15.6% vs 0.1%, p < 0.001), a higher rate of fetal delivery (37.5% vs. 6.0%, p < 0.001) and resuscitative hysterotomy (9.4% vs. 0%, p < 0.001). Only approximately 3% of PTPs were severely injured. However, severely injured PTPs had a nearly 40% rate of fetal delivery as well as increased complications and mortality. This included a resuscitative hysterotomy rate of nearly 10%. Significant vigilance must remain when caring for this population.

Significant variation in computed tomography imaging of pregnant trauma patients: a retrospective multicenter study.

PURPOSE: Following motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), patients often undergo extensive computed tomography (CT) imaging. However, pregnant trauma patients (PTPs) represent a unique population where the risk of fetal radiation may supersede the benefits of liberal CT imaging. This study sought to evaluate imaging practices for PTPs, hypothesizing variability in CT imaging among trauma centers. If demonstrated, this might suggest the need to develop specific guidelines to standardize practice. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective study (2016-2021) was performed at 12 Level-I/II trauma centers. Adult (≥18 years old) PTPs involved in MVCs were included, with no patients excluded. The primary outcome was the frequency of CT. Chi-square tests were used to compare categorical variables, and ANOVA was used to compare the means of normally distributed continuous variables. RESULTS: A total of 729 PTPs sustained MVCs (73% at high speed of ≥ 25 miles per hour). Most patients were mildly injured but a small variation of injury severity score (range 1.1-4.6, p < 0.001) among centers was observed. There was a variation of imaging rates for CT head (range 11.8-62.5%, p < 0.001), cervical spine (11.8-75%, p < 0.001), chest (4.4-50.2%, p < 0.001), and abdomen/pelvis (0-57.3%, p < 0.001). In high-speed MVCs, there was variation for CT head (12.5-64.3%, p < 0.001), cervical spine (16.7-75%, p < 0.001), chest (5.9-83.3%, p < 0.001), and abdomen/pelvis (0-60%, p < 0.001). There was no difference in mortality (0-2.9%, p =0.19). CONCLUSION: Significant variability of CT imaging in PTPs after MVCs was demonstrated across 12 trauma centers, supporting the need for standardization of CT imaging for PTPs to reduce unnecessary radiation exposure while ensuring optimal injury identification is achieved.

Outcomes for advanced aged (35 and older) versus younger aged pregnant trauma patients: A multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Effects of advanced maternal age (AMA) pregnancies (defined as ≥35 years) on pregnant trauma patients (PTPs) are unknown. This study compared AMA versus younger PTPs, hypothesizing AMA PTPs have increased risk of fetal delivery (FD). METHODS: A retrospective (2016-2021) multicenter study included all PTPs. Multivariable logistic regression was used to evaluate risk of FD after trauma. RESULTS: A total of 950 PTPs were included. Both cohorts had similar gestational age and injury severity scores. The AMA group had increased injuries to the pancreas, bladder, and stomach (p < 0.05). There was no difference in rate or associated risk of FD between cohorts (5.3% vs. 11.4%; OR 0.59, CI 0.19-1.88, p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Compared to their younger counterparts, some intra-abdominal injuries (pancreas, bladder, and stomach) were more common among AMA PTPs. However, there was no difference in rate or associated risk of FD in AMA PTPs, thus they do not require increased observation.

Seatbelt Use in Females of Childbearing Age at an Urban Safety-Net Level 1 Trauma Center.

BACKGROUND: Safety restraint system (SRS) use is known to improve maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnant women. Factors associated with seatbelt use in females of childbearing age are largely unstudied despite global public health endeavors to increase use. We sought to define its use and uncover risk factors for not using a restraint system in this vulnerable patient cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all female patients aged 15-35 y presenting from 2007 to 2017 was performed using our institutional level 1 trauma database. Age, pregnancy, insurance status (commercial or private, Medicaid plan, and uninsured), race, and Injury Severity Score (ISS) were examined in unmatched data. A matched cohort was created to evaluate the impact of pregnancy on SRS use based on ISS, age, race, and insurance status with blinding to belt use during matching (two nonpregnant to one pregnant). Differences in restraint use were then examined using Mann-Whitney U and Chi-square tests. RESULTS: A total of 779 patients met inclusion criteria, of which 140 were pregnant. In unmatched data, there was no difference in belt use with regard to age, race, or insurance type. Overall belt use was 59%. Twenty-five percent of patients were uninsured, and 39% used a Medicaid plan. Pregnant patients were statistically more likely to wear belts (71% versus 57%, P = 0.003). In ISS-matched data, this difference was not upheld (63% pregnant belt use versus 58%, P = 0.615). CONCLUSIONS: Pregnancy did not induce improved safety behavior in our population. More study is needed to confirm our findings. Overall SRS use in our urban population is very poor, lags behind the national average, and requires additional public health attention.