Burns in pregnancy.

Pregnancy complicated by a thermal injury must be aggressively managed to provide a favorable outcome for the mother and her developing fetus. The MEDLINE database was used to search for English-language papers published after 1980 to evaluate the classification, complications, and treatment of thermal injuries in pregnancy. Additional sources were identified through cross-referencing. We reviewed these sources with particular attention to classification, complications, and treatment options. The incidence of serious thermal injury in pregnancy is low. Maternal and perinatal mortality increases significantly when greater than 50 percent of the total body surface area is burned. However, pregnancy does not seem to alter maternal outcome, and maternal survival is often accompanied by fetal survival. The delivery of a term infant is likely when the mother recovers from a thermal injury, and there is no evidence of fetal jeopardy or labor in the first week postburn. Acute management of thermal injuries in pregnancy is essential for maternal and fetal well-being. Obstetrical management should be individualized.