Traumatic Brain Injury during Pregnancy: Maternal-Fetal Outcomes and Management

Abstract

Objective: To provide local evidence for the development of a maternal-fetal unit of management to control adverse outcomes in pregnant patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Material and Methods: This study was executed at the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS) and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital, Lahore (LGH). The study recruited a sample of 30 patients who reported with TBI. In the first phase of the study, initial assessment and treatment for the patients were provided; later, maternal-fetal outcomes of these patients were observed. After the description of data, the Chi-square test of association and Analysis of variance were used to draw inferences.

Results: The average maternal age was 30 ± 4.7 years, and most of the patients got this injury during the second and third trimester. Road accidents were the leading cause of TBI in these patients, and a significant number underwent neurosurgical interventions, with three mortalities. More than half of the patients needed critical care in the intensive care unit. A substantial proportion of fetal distress, neonatal deaths, cesarean deliveries, preterm births, and maternal mortality had been recorded in patients who had severe TBI as per the Glasgow Coma Scale.

Conclusion: This study concludes that both maternal and fetal status are at risk in this study group; however, a well-defined maternal-fetal management unit, which is a combination of obstetricians, neurosurgeons, and critical care professionals, can reduce the potential negative outcomes.