Fetomaternal haemorrhage discovered after trauma and treated by fetal intravascular transfusion

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology 1997, Vol.71 (1), p.21-22
• Main Authors: Lipitz, Shlomo, Achiron, Reuwen, Horoshovski, David, Rotstein, Zeev, Sherman, Dan, Schiff, Eyal
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anesthesia. Intensive care medicine. Transfusions. Cell therapy and gene therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine; Blood. Blood and plasma substitutes. Blood products. Blood cells. Blood typing. Plasmapheresis. Apheresis; Female; Fetomaternal haemorrhage; Fetomaternal Transfusion - etiology; Fetomaternal Transfusion - therapy; Gestational Age; Humans; Intravascular fetal transfusion; Medical sciences; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Transfusions. Complications. Transfusion reactions. Cell and gene therapy; Trauma; Wounds and Injuries - complications
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/S0301-2115(96)02607-3

Fetomaternal haemorrhage can occur spontaneously, or after abdominal trauma. We describe a case of fetomaternal haemorrhage diagnosed at 27 weeks gestation after blunt trauma. The Kleihauer-Betke smear on admission and during the first week was positive, ranging between 3% and 5%. Cordocentesis revealed a fetal haemoglobin of 8.8 gm/dl. An intravascular fetal transfusion was performed. The weeks until delivery and the neonatal period were unremarkable. Fetal anaemia can be a serious complication of fetomaternal haemorrhage, however, intravascular fetal transfusion is an effective treatment when this occurs. The Kleihauer-Betke test should be performed in every patient with a history of abdominal trauma during pregnancy.