Uterine Penetrating Wounds in Pregnant Women—Review and Case Study

TL;DR

This paper discusses a rare case of a pregnant woman with a uterine stab wound and highlights the broader issue of violence against pregnant women.

Contribution

The paper contributes a case study and review emphasizing the need for rapid medical response and addressing violence against pregnant women.

Findings

A 25-year-old pregnant woman survived a uterine stab wound but her newborn died months later.

Violence against pregnant women is a global issue requiring coordinated medical and social responses.

Quick decisions are crucial in life-threatening injuries to both mother and fetus.

Abstract

Introduction: Uterine penetrating wounds in pregnant women are rare. Usually, they are caused by traffic accidents, but sometimes they are an effect of violence, accidental injuries, or deliberate self-harm. Case Report: We present a case of a stab wound to the uterus in a 25-year-old woman in the 37th week of pregnancy, which was the result of a knife attack. Emergency splenectomy and cesarean section were performed less than an hour after the attack. The child required resuscitation and long-term intensive therapy. Both the woman and the newborn survived; however, the newborn’s condition remained poor. The child died a few months later, according to community-acquired pneumonia. Discussion: Cases of wounds penetrating the uterus have been described for many years around the world. They are often the result of violence, most often from the partner. Statistically, pregnant women are more likely to be victims of violence. Sometimes, the wounds penetrating the uterus are accidental and arise, for example, as a result of a fall. A rare but not isolated case is self-mutilation to terminate a pregnancy. Women often inflict such injuries on themselves using sharp tools, sometimes firearms. There are also cases of another person helping to terminate a pregnancy in this way. Conclusions: Violence against women, including pregnant women, remains a significant social problem in all regions of the world and poses a challenge to uniformed services, medical professions, and social services. Regardless of the mechanism of injury, in the event of an imminent threat to the life of the mother and fetus, it is crucial to make quick decisions aimed at saving lives.