Placental laceration and fetal death as a result of blunt abdominal trauma.
Placental laceration as a result of blunt maternal trauma has rarely been reported. Herein, we report a case of a 17-year-old, 37-week-pregnant woman who presented after a motor vehicle accident. Initial examination showed no fetal heart sounds or movements. Evaluation included enhanced CT scan of the abdomen. Laparotomy and Caesarian section were precipitated by the development of a coagulopathy, at which time the uterus was found to be filled with blood. Although there were no signs of external uterine injury, examination of the placenta showed a large radial laceration. The fetus had no signs of direct trauma.
Civil
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Department of Surgery, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Rutgers Medical School, Camden, New Jersey.
Talucci
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Schwab
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D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000293:Adolescent; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology