CT IN EMERGENCIES DURING PREGNANCY: WHEN IS IT INDICATED AND WHAT ARE THE RISKS INVOLVED

Abstract

This article sought to evaluate the use of computed tomography (CT) in the early diagnosis of complications in pregnant women in emergency situations. To this end, an integrative review was conducted in the PubMed, Embase and Google Scholar databases, focusing on pregnant women in clinical emergencies who underwent CT scans, comparing this with other diagnostic methods and assessing diagnostic accuracy and maternal-fetal risks. The studies show that CT during pregnancy is used mainly in clinical emergencies, particularly in cases of severe maternal conditions. The main indications include trauma, suspected pulmonary embolism and abdominal pain, especially following inconclusive ultrasound (US). US is the initial method, whilst magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) serves as a radiation-free alternative. CT is widely available and ensures rapid diagnosis, a viable option in the face of inconclusive US results, unavailability of MRI, or clinical emergencies. Although radiation doses are usually below the threshold for deterministic effects, the risk of theoretical stochastic effects must be considered. On the other hand, discrepancies may be related to the limitations encountered, such as data heterogeneity and the limited availability of studies. Therefore, the indication for CT in pregnant women must balance fetal risk and diagnostic benefit.