title: Imaging of trauma: Part 2, Abdominal trauma and pregnancy--a radiologist's guide to doing what is best for the mother and baby.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pregnant trauma patient requires imaging tests to diagnose maternal injuries and diagnostic tests to evaluate the viability of her pregnancy. This article will discuss abdominal trauma in pregnancy and the specific role of diagnostic imaging. Radiation concerns in pregnancy will be addressed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trauma is the leading cause of nonobstetric maternal mortality and a significant cause of fetal loss. Both major and minor trauma result in an increased risk of fetal loss. In major trauma, when there is concern for maternal injury, CT is the mainstay of imaging. The risks of radiation to the pregnancy are small compared with the risk of missed or delayed diagnosis of trauma. In minor trauma, when there is no concern for maternal injury but there is concern about the pregnancy, ultrasound is performed but is insensitive in diagnosing placental abruption. External fetal monitoring is used to dictate patient care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Harborview Medical Center, 325 Ninth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104-2499, USA. csadro@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sadro
authors.forename: Mark P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Kalpana M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kanal
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003287:Contrast Media; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D049188:Prenatal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D011835:Radiation Protection; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media