HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by RAYBURN, W. Articles by CRUIKSHANK, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by RAYBURN, W. Articles by CRUIKSHANK, D.

Major Burns During Pregnancy

Effects on Fetal Well-Being

Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Surgery (The University of Michigan Burn Center), The University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan; the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa; and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

The authors reviewed the fetal outcomes for 30 pregnant patients who required hospitalization for burns that involved 11 to 97% of the total body area. A positive relationship was found between the percentage of maternal total body burn and maternal mortality, fetal mortality, and premature delivery. Premature delivery and/or fetal mortality occurred primarily within the first five days and followed maternal complications of hypovolemic shock, sepsis, or respiratory insufficiency. In the eight cases in which maternal injury became lethal (20 to 97% total body burn), all fetuses were born spontaneously before maternal death, but seven were stillborn. After overcoming the immediate postburn period, a healthy-appearing term-size infant was likely to be born while the mother continued to receive intensive therapy. The ideal treatment to protect the fetus has not yet been determined.