Recent advances in research on fetal physiology, perinatology, and teratology are of great importance to the obstetric anesthesiologist. Studies of special interest include the evaluation of specific markers for identifying birth asphyxia, fetal ST-segment waveform analysis during labor, and the study of fetal cerebral oxygenation during labor using non-invasive techniques Other studies have provided new information on fetal and neonatal effects of maternal drug abuse. Both retrospective and prospective studies involving a large number of pregnant women with concurrent medical illnesses such as asthma, diabetes, and morbid obesity have provided new information on perinatal outcome.
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