Abstract:

Penetrating trauma during pregnancy is an increasing problem in today’s ever - violent society. Multiple direct fetal, placental, cord and intraabdominal organs injuries have been reported as a result of penetrating. Laparotomy is often required for determine the degree of trauma as well as treatment. A 26-year-old pregnant woman was brought into the emergency department of our hospital after suffering a gunshot wound. A preoperative transabdominal ultrasonography examination in the operating room determined that the fetal heart rate was severely bradycardic (30 beats/min) and the uterus was filled with coagulum. The patient was taken urgently to the operation for exploratory laparotomy. One bullet entry point was found at the root of the round ligament, and one bullet-exit point was at the posterior wall of the uterus and that site was actively bleeding. No injury was found to the other intraabdominal organs. After stabilization of the maternal vital signs, it was carried out a cesarean section and and a 420 g exanimate female fetus was taken out. The uterine defects were closed primarily. The patient was discharged on the 6th postoperative day

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