Investigating Maternal and Fetal Outcomes in Burn Injury Cases During Pregnancy: Insights from a Major Burn Center

Abstract

Objective: To determine the maternal and fetal outcomes of burn during pregnancy at a burn centre in a lower-middle-income country.
Material and Methods: This study was Retrospective and data was collected for 1 year. This retrospective study was conducted at the burn centre from 1st October 2022 to 30th September 2023 after obtaining ethical approval, and investigated outcomes in burned pregnant women. The data were extracted from patient records, supplemented by family contacts for missing information. A structured questionnaire systematically gathered essential data, including demographics (age, gestational age, parity, history of epilepsy), burn characteristics (depth of burn, intention and mode of burn, inhalational injury, TBSA involved, involvement of abdomen, pretreatment, blood transfusion, duration of hospital stay and surgical intervention), and maternal (discharged/expired) and fetal (IUD/Alive) outcomes.
Results: Out of twenty pregnant burn victims, 8 (40%) patients expired and 12 (60%) were discharged. Fetal outcome in terms of IUD and alive was 45% and 55%, respectively. When results were compared among discharged and expired groups using chi-square, it was statistically significant for gestational age, time of presentation, TBSA, inhalational injury, abdomen involvement and mode of burn (p <0.05%).
Conclusion: Burn incidents in pregnant women significantly adversely impact fetal and maternal well- being, especially in major burns.
Keywords: Burn, pregnancy, feto-maternal, outcome, flame burn, mortality