Table 1 Cases of placental abruption and intrauterine fetal death at Nara Medical University, Japan (2011–2013). Case no. GA (weeks + days) Background Assistance for labor Delivery time, h Blood loss, g Blood transfusion, mL Hospital stay (days after delivery) Follow up Maternal age, y Parity Red cell concentrates Fresh frozen plasma Platelet concentrate Next menses (month(s) after delivery) Next pregnancy Delivery 1 38 + 2 32 0 None 0.5 1130 0 0 0 5 2 Yes Vaginal 2 35 + 2 27 0 ROM Ox 3.5 3603 420 960 0 10 1 Yes Cesarean a 3 35 + 2 31 1 ROM Ox 5.5 480 560 960 0 1 0 Yes Vaginal 4 23 + 4 35 2 ROM PG Ox 28.1 1450 1960 1920 200 3 2 No 5 20 + 4 36 2 None 1.6 135 0 0 0 1 1 Yes IUFD at 18 weeks; vaginal 6 36 + 3 20 0 ROM Ox 13.1 1092 1400 2400 0 3 3 Yes Artificial abortion 7 34 + 4 37 0 Ox 6.4 b 1140 1120 1920 200 10 3 No 8 33 + 2 35 4 None 7.8 c 1050 1960 240 0 15 9 26 + 1 26 3 ROM Ox 9.0 370 0 0 0 2 ? ? d Abbreviations: GA, gestational age; IUFD, intrauterine fetal death; Ox, oxytocin drop infusion; PG, prostaglandin E1 vaginal tablet; ROM, manual rupture of membranes. a Emergency cesarean delivery was performed owing to recurrent placental abruption. Newborn was intact and survived. b Failure to progress and acute renal failure leading to emergency cesarean delivery. c No routine medical check-up. Uterine rupture found on the seventh day after vaginal delivery, leading to hysterectomy. d Unable to follow up owing to relocation of the patient. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2014.03.019 0020-7292/© 2014 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. Accidental electrocution in pregnancy Radmila Sparić a, ⁎, Ivana Berisavac b , Saša Kadija a,c , Tatjana Mostić d , Biljana Lazović e , Andrea Tinelli f a Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia b Clinic for Neurology, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia c Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia d Clinic for Anesthesiology and Resuscitation, Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia e Department of Pulmonology, Internal Medicine Clinic, University Clinical Hospital Center Zemun, Belgrade, Serbia f Division of Experimental Endoscopic Surgery, Imaging, Technology and Minimally Invasive Therapy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vito Fazzi Hospital, 73100 Lecce, Italy article info Article history: Received 7 January 2014 Received in revised form 6 March 2014 Accepted 26 March 2014 Keywords: Electrocution Fetal injuries Maternal complications Persistent vegetative state Pregnancy Cases of electrocution in pregnancy are very rare. There are no reliable data on its overall incidence or on fetal impact [1,2]. The most important factors determining the effects on the fetus are the character- istics of the electricity and the path of the electrical current through the woman’s body and uterus [3]. Electrocution in pregnancy may cause maternal injuries, such as cardio-neurological complications [4] and life-threatening risks, or severe fetal damage and fetal death in 6%–73% of cases [2,5]. There is no consensus on the recommended monitoring and treatment procedures for electrocution in pregnancy that positively affect pregnancy outcome [5]. A 20-year-old woman (Para 2) was admitted to an intensive care unit at 14 weeks of pregnancy in an unstable condition and comatose state; she had been intubated for respiratory insufficiency. The patient had been electrocuted while blow-drying her hair in the bath. The pa- tient’s conscious state was recorded as 5 on the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and this was maintained until 16 weeks of pregnancy when the patient was referred to the Clinical Center of Serbia, Belgrade. Ultra- sound revealed that the patient’s obstetric condition was appropriate for gestational age. The patient was managed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians with guidance from the hospital’s ethics committee. Neurological find- ings at 17 weeks of pregnancy corresponded with a persistent vegeta- tive state (GCS 7). The pregnancy was routinely monitored by clinical, hematological, and ultrasound examinations and feeding was achieved by enteral and parenteral diets. Tracheotomy was performed on the 15th day of hospitalization and, 4 days later, the patient was taken off the respirator and provided with oxygen support. Microbiological anal- yses were conducted every 7–10 days, followed by eventual antibiotic therapy; physiotherapy was provided on a daily basis. At 21 weeks of pregnancy, the patient’s case was presented to the Institutional Board of Ethics, and to the family who, after being informed and consulted on the situation, provided their consent for the pregnancy to be contin- ued. At the beginning of the 24th week, the patient’s general condition ⁎ Corresponding author at: Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics, Clinical Center of Serbia, Višegradska 26, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. Tel.: +381 66 8301 332; fax: +381 11 361 5603. E-mail address: radmila@rcub.bg.ac.rs (R. Sparić). 181 BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS