title: Peripartum consultations expand the role of the fetal/neonatal neurologist.
abstract: The peripartum period entails the next prenatal interval when novel neuroprotective strategies will be designed and tested. Research development will lead to novel evaluations for maternal-fetal pairs who require inpatient treatment and possible delivery for worsening or acute neurologic problems. Future studies should critically compare serial fetal surveillance assessments with postnatal clinical findings to detect and treat more accurately fetal/neonatal brain disorders that begin or worsen during the peripartum period. Clinical management decisions require an interdisciplinary treatment approach. Protocols may begin before and during parturition, and continue through neonatal resuscitation and early postnatal periods into infancy. Appropriate choices of preventive, rescue, and repair neuroprotective interventions must consider both the timing and etiologies of encephalopathies in the context of maternal, fetal, placental, and neonatal diseases.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Rainbow Babies' and Children's Hospital, University Hospitals of Cleveland and Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Mark.scher@uhhospitals.org
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Scher
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities*; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D009462:Neurology; D010500:Perinatology; D058725:Peripartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy