Preterm Birth Mechanisms, Mediators, Prediction, Prevention & Interventions

Preterm delivery is a major public health concern. Recent developments, such as the preventive use of progesterone, and new data on possible mechanisms of initiation of parturition, have placed the topic at the forefront of the interests and preoccupation of many in maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics. This balanced, authoritative, and well-referenced work offers a rigorous underpinning of basic science, highlighted translational science sections, and evidence-based clinical guidelines.

Stillbirth remains a sufficiently frequent outcome of pregnancy to pose great problems for clinicians, who have to treat extremely distressed patients. This concise but comprehensive book from an international team of contributors sets out clear guidelines for clinical procedures and patient management for the obstetrician, as well as the gynecologist and the gynecologic pathologist.

1. The feto–fetal transfusion syndrome story, an historical perspective. 2. The epidemiology of twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 3. Pathophysiology. 4. Evidence on physiopathology. 5. Placental pathology and twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 6. Mathematical modeling of twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 7. Ultrasound assessment in twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 8. Amnioreduction therapy for twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 9. Laser treatment for twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 10. Umbilical cord occlusion in twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 11. Treatment of twin–twin transfusion syndrome: an evidence-based analysis. 12. The role of Doppler assessment in twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 13. Outcomes and complications of the surgical treatment of twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 14. Echocardiography in twin–twin transfusion. 15. Organization of nursing responsibilities. 16. Ethical challenges in the management of twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 17. Neurological outcomes after therapeutic interventions for twin–twin transfusion syndrome. 18. Anesthesia for surgical treatment of twin–twin transfusion syndrome.

Petraglia, Felice; Strauss, Jerome F; Weiss, Gerson; Gabbe, Steven G