the scope of the problem
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Although the exact numbers are not known, trauma is estimated to complicate approximately 6-7% of all pregnancies and is the leading cause of non-obstetrical maternal death (Mendez-Figueroa, Dahlke, Vrees and Rouse, 2013). Approximately 17,000 major and minor injury related hospitalizations among pregnant women occurred in the United States in 2002. Delivery occurred in 38% of those hospitalizations (Luley, Fitzpatrick, Grotegut, Hocker, Myers and Brown, 2013). For certain inner city and socioeconomic groups, rates of maternal trauma as high as 20-45% have been reported (Rudloff, 2007). It accounts for approximately 46% of maternal deaths, or more than one million deaths worldwide each year (Hill, 2009). Most traumas are minor, with only an estimated 0.3-0.4% of pregnant patients requiring admission to the hospital (John, Shiozawa, Haut, Efron, Haider, Cornwell, and Chang, 2011). Because 90% of all trauma in pregnancy is minor, more fetuses die as a result of lesser injuries than as a result of catastrophic trauma (James, 2011). Fetal death is much more common than maternal death, but the rates of fetal demise are difficult to estimate due to potential underreporting of pregnancy loss (Hill, 2009). Fetal morbidity and mortality increases with the severity of maternal injuries.
Why is this important for me to know?
Because at some point during your career as an emergency nurse, you may come into contact with this patient: