[Current status of antenatal diagnosis & perinatal medical network].
Antenatal diagnosis has undergone an explosion of growth in the last decade. This has revolutionized the practice of fetal medicine. Ideally, the antenatal diagnosis of congenital anomalies should improve antenatal counseling, it may also affect the timing, site, and method of delivery and potentially allow for intrauterine surgical correction. Paradoxically worse outcomes, however, have been observed in cases of some anomalies such as diaphragmatic hernia and omphalocele. Most of them combined premature birth and/or low birth weight with associated lethal anomalies: the combination almost inevitably led to mortality. In order to reduce the mortality, new approaches will be required for such anomalies in the future. Perinatal medical network will also be important to promote a closer association between perinatal medicine and perinatal surgery.
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Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
D019058:Community Networks; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018743:Perinatal Care; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal