Thermal injury during pregnancy.

Abstract

Nineteen pregnant women with burn areas ranging from 6 to 92% of the total body surface area were treated at the US Army Institute of Surgical Research between 1951 and 1974. A review of these cases led to the following observations and conclusions: 1) Pregnancy does not alter the maternal outcome after thermal injury. 2) Maternal survival is usually accompanied by fetal survival. 3) If the gravida's injury is lethal, the pregnancy will usually terminate spontaneously prior to her death. 4) Obstetric intervention is indicated only in the gravely ill woman whose complications (hypotension, hypoxia, or sepsis) jeopardize the life of the fetus. 5) A better understanding of the complications of major burns and the care available in modern burn units should improve the prognosis for burned pregnant patients.