Could the consequences of premature delivery be further attenuated by means of new prenatal strategies?
The last 10 years have already seen improvements in the short- and long-term prognosis for premature neonates. Nevertheless, progress in the prenatal evaluation of predictive factors for neonatal diseases and more detailed and reliable knowledge of fetal physiology could allow the development of new treatments with consequent expectations of further improvements in the prognosis for such premature newborns. Global strategies for the management of preterm labour, ranging from a policy for prenatal transfer to centres offering the appropriate level of perinatal care, should continue to be expanded, and long-term evaluations must also be continued.
Vaast
Pascal
P
Service de Pathologie Maternelle et Foetale, Clinique d'Obstétrique, Hôpital Jeanne de Flandre, 2 Avenue Oscar Lambret, Chru Lille, 59000 Lille, France. p-vaast@chru-lille.fr
Houfflin-Debarge
Véronique
V
Deruelle
Philippe
P
Subtil
Damien
D
Storme
Laurent
L
Puech
Francis
F
D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000517:prevention & control; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods*; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome