Routine use of urinary hCG test in adult burn females to detect "hidden" pregnancies: a review.

Abstract

Burns occurring in conjunction with pregnancy can be a potentially life threatening scenario as it may lead to a rapid depletion of the already diminished maternal reserves. The management protocol in a pregnant burn female has to be tailored, taking into consideration the additional factor of fetal well being and the fetal susceptibility to various agents. For such alterations to be incorporated, it is imperative on part of the treating doctor to correctly ascertain the pregnant/non-pregnant status of an adult burn female. Though most cases of pregnancy can be straightforwardly diagnosed on basis of history/examination but it is not a totally reliant method. Ours is a prospective study which reveals the inadequacy of history/examination as the only method of diagnosing pregnancy in adult burnt female group. We also found routine urinary hCG usage as a viable method of picking up these "hidden" cases of pregnancy and thus avert the potential catastrophe of not altering the management in accordance with pregnancy and subsequent endangering of maternal and fetal life. An ancillary observation of our study was the need of the attending doctor to be well versed in his obstetrical knowledge and skills and if not so, then an effort be taken on part of the institution to undertake a reorientation program which will help the attending resident/doctor to brush up his obstetrical attainments.