title: ABCs of perinatal medicine.
abstract: The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the continuum of perinatal risks responsible for developmental handicaps in infancy. The first step is the Assessment of risks during pregnancy so that intervention can occur naturally in the process of preventive health care. A valid risk-assessment system has been developed which can facilitate identification of the high-risk pregnancy. New methods of perinatal care during the Birth process are now available which allow active intervention aimed at reducing the likelihood of a high-risk patient delivering an infant destined to become handicapped. During the neonatal period Critical care has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality. However, the perinatal profile of the handicap is not yet complete enough to fully explain developmental delay. A new health care strategy based on prospective risk assessment and early intervention must now be seriously considered which will allow technological medicine to continue to improve well-being.
mesh_terms: D002657:Child Development; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000517:prevention & control; D005865:Gestational Age; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007744:Obstetric Labor Complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control; D010500:Perinatology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012127:Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Newborn / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012306:Risk