Module 8: Traumatic Maternal Cardiac Arrest
Trauma in pregnancy is the leading cause of nonobstetric or indirect maternal mortality and affects approximately 7% of all pregnancies. Intimate partner violence and motor vehicle crashes are the most common traumatic injuries. Because trauma has been cited as a leading cause of MCA, it is likely that both OH and in-hospital personnel will encounter trauma-related cardiac arrest in pregnant and postpartum patients.
Traumatic MCA requires coordination of multidisciplinary teams to optimize maternal and neonatal outcomes. It is critical to promptly identify pregnancy, estimate gestational age, and modify CPR. Any delays can be detrimental to maternal and neonatal outcomes.
This lesson discusses the approach to caring for a patient with traumatic MCA and outlines the diagnostic approach for all reproductive-age people (generally defined as 12–51 years of age) with traumatic cardiac arrest, focusing on the care of pregnant and postpartum people.
