Maternal and Neonatal outcomes following motor vehicle accidents during pregnancy; A systematic review

Abstract

Background:
Trauma is the major reason for non-obstetric mortality and morbidity; major trauma during gestation is associated with adverse gestational outcomes. Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs) are the major reason of life-threatening trauma among pregnant subjects, and they are the most frequent reason for non-obstetric trauma linked with fetal mortality. Also, MVCs are responsible for several consequences for the survivors.
Aim:
To assess the maternal and neonatal outcomes that occurred after vehicle accidents during gestation by reviewing the prior studies related to this subject.
Methods:
Electronic databases were explored to obtain relevant articles and use various related terms. The eligible articles were written in English, were original articles published after 2010, and focused on the gestational outcomes following motor vehicle accidents.
Results:
Eight articles agreed with the criteria and were included with a total number of 239694 women. There were two studies that reported maternal outcomes only, whereas one study reported neonatal outcomes and five studies reported both maternal and neonatal outcomes.
Conclusion:
MVCs and accidents during pregnancy result in consequences for the mother and her fetus; the most frequent complications include preterm labor, placental abruption, stillbirth, and fetal mortality. The gestational outcomes following such accidents were influenced by various factors such as using seat belts, crash frequency, and gestational age.