Accidental electric shock in pregnancy: A prospective cohort study

A. Einarson, B. Bailey, G. Inocencion, K. Ormond, G. Koren

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

53 Scopus citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to quantify fetal risk after accidental electric shock in pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: All pregnant women who were counseled by the Motherisk Program in Toronto and by the Vermont Pregnancy Risk Information Service in Burlington after having an electric shock during pregnancy were enrolled in a prospective, controlled, observational study. RESULTS: Thirty-one women were followed up after delivery: 26 had been exposed to 110 V, 2 to 220 V, 2 to high voltage, and 1 to 12 V. Twenty-eight women gave birth to healthy normal infants, one had a child with a ventricular septal defect, and two had spontaneous abortions. In the control group there were 30 healthy babies; one woman had a spontaneous abortion. There were no differences between the groups in pregnancy outcome, birth weight, gestational age, type of delivery, or rates of neonatal distress. CONCLUSION: In most cases accidental electric shock occurring during day-to- day life during pregnancy does not pose a major fetal risk.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)678-681
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Volume176
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 1997
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Electric injuries
  • pregnancy
  • spontaneous abortion

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