TY - JOUR
T1 - Towards a new era in fetal medicine in the Nordic countries
AU - the Steering Committee Group of the Nordic Network of Fetal Medicine (NNFM)
AU - Sitras, Vasilis
AU - Brodszki, Jana
AU - Carlsson, Ylva
AU - Ebbing, Cathrine
AU - Eggebø, Torbjørn
AU - Harðardóttir, Hildur
AU - Haugen, Guttorm
AU - Heinonen, Seppo
AU - Iwarsson, Erik
AU - Jacobsson, Bo
AU - Jørgensen, Finn Stener
AU - Lindgren, Peter
AU - Lingman, Göran
AU - Makikallio, Kaarin
AU - Petersen, Olav
AU - Stefanovic, Vedran
AU - Sundberg, Karin
AU - Tabor, Ann
AU - Tekay, Aydin
AU - Tiblad, Eleonor
AU - Vogel, Ida
AU - Zingenberg, Helle
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 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 - Fetal medicine
KW - high risk pregnancy
KW - prenatal screening
KW - ultrasound
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84978066683&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/aogs.12917
DO - 10.1111/aogs.12917
M3 - Comment/debate
C2 - 27124273
AN - SCOPUS:84978066683
SN - 0001-6349
VL - 95
SP - 845
EP - 849
JO - Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
JF - Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
IS - 8
ER -