Fetomaternal haemorrhage discovered after trauma and treated by fetal intravascular transfusion.
Fetomaternal haemorrhage can occur spontaneously, or after abdominal trauma. We describe a case of fetomaternal haemorrhage diagnosed at 27 weeks gestation after blunt trauma. The Kleihauer-Betke smear on admission and during the first week was positive, ranging between 3% and 5%. Cordocentesis revealed a fetal haemoglobin of 8.8 gm/dl. An intravascular fetal transfusion was performed. The weeks until delivery and the neonatal period were unremarkable. Fetal anaemia can be a serious complication of fetomaternal haemorrhage, however, intravascular fetal transfusion is an effective treatment when this occurs. The Kleihauer-Betke test should be performed in every patient with a history of abdominal trauma during pregnancy.
Lipitz
S
S
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
Achiron
R
R
Horoshovski
D
D
Rotstein
Z
Z
Sherman
D
D
Schiff
E
E
D000328:Adult; D001805:Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine; D005260:Female; D005331:Fetomaternal Transfusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*