Towards a new era in fetal medicine in the Nordic countries

TY - JOUR

T1 - Towards a new era in fetal medicine in the Nordic countries

AU - Sitras, Vasilis

AU - Steering Committee Group of the Nordic Network of Fetal Medicine (NNFM)

AU - Braathen, Øivind

AU - Brodszki, Jana

AU - Carlsson, Ylva

AU - Ebbing, Cathrine

AU - Eggebø, Torbjørn

AU - Hardardottir, Hildur

AU - Haugen, Guttorm

AU - Heinonen, Seppo

AU - Iwarsson, Erik

AU - Jacobsson, Bo

AU - Jørgensen, Finn Stener

AU - Petersen, Olav

AU - Sundberg, Karin

AU - Tabor, Ann

AU - Vogel, Ida

AU - Zingenberg, Helle

N1 - © 2016 Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

PY - 2016/8/1

Y1 - 2016/8/1

N2 - Fetal medicine is a subspecialty of obstetrics investigating the development, growth and disease of the human fetus. The advances in fetal imaging (ultrasonography, MRI) and molecular diagnostic techniques, together with the possibility of intervention in utero, make fetal medicine an important, rapidly developing field within women's healthcare. Therefore, a variety of specialists, such as neonatologists, pediatric cardiologists, medical geneticists, radiologists and pediatric surgeons, are necessary to adjunct in the diagnosis and treatment of the fetus as a patient. In this commentary, we provide a description of some organizational and educational aspects of fetal medicine in the Nordic countries, using examples of the management of specific conditions such as aneuploidy screening, red cell allo-immunization and fetal interventions. Clearly, there are several cultural, legal, organizational and practical differences between the Nordic countries; these are not necessarily negative, given the high standards of care in all Nordic countries. The scope of the newly founded Nordic Network of Fetal Medicine is to enhance cooperation in clinical practice, education and research between the participant countries. Hopefully, this initiative will find the necessary political and economic support from the national authorities and bring a new era in the field of fetal medicine in the Nordic region.

AB - Fetal medicine is a subspecialty of obstetrics investigating the development, growth and disease of the human fetus. The advances in fetal imaging (ultrasonography, MRI) and molecular diagnostic techniques, together with the possibility of intervention in utero, make fetal medicine an important, rapidly developing field within women's healthcare. Therefore, a variety of specialists, such as neonatologists, pediatric cardiologists, medical geneticists, radiologists and pediatric surgeons, are necessary to adjunct in the diagnosis and treatment of the fetus as a patient. In this commentary, we provide a description of some organizational and educational aspects of fetal medicine in the Nordic countries, using examples of the management of specific conditions such as aneuploidy screening, red cell allo-immunization and fetal interventions. Clearly, there are several cultural, legal, organizational and practical differences between the Nordic countries; these are not necessarily negative, given the high standards of care in all Nordic countries. The scope of the newly founded Nordic Network of Fetal Medicine is to enhance cooperation in clinical practice, education and research between the participant countries. Hopefully, this initiative will find the necessary political and economic support from the national authorities and bring a new era in the field of fetal medicine in the Nordic region.

KW - Female

KW - Fetal Diseases

KW - Fetal Therapies

KW - Humans

KW - International Cooperation

KW - Obstetrics

KW - Pregnancy

KW - Prenatal Diagnosis

KW - Scandinavian and Nordic Countries

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.1111/aogs.12917

DO - 10.1111/aogs.12917

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 27124273

SN - 0001-6349

VL - 95

SP - 845

EP - 849

JO - Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

JF - Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica

IS - 8

ER -