LOS ANGELES, May 9, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- Some of Southern California's academic perinatologists, neonatologists, pediatric radiologists and pediatric surgeons gathered last weekend in Santa Monica at the 2006 Inaugural Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health Symposium to share their expertise on state-of-the-art perinatal and postnatal care, evidence-based best practice standards, and future trends in perinatal and neonatal medicine. The symposium was sponsored by the Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health (IMFH) at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles and the University of Southern California.
"This symposium showcased the collective expertise fostered by a model of collaborative practice across the spectrum of care, ranging from initial diagnosis, through fetal intervention, managed delivery, neonatal intensive care and follow up," said Istvan Seri, M.D., Ph.D., co-director of the IMFH at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, and head of the USC Division of Neonatal Medicine and professor of pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California.
"Participants represented the partnership between obstetric and pediatric medicine, with speakers from affiliated sub-specialties at Childrens Hospital and the Keck School of Medicine of USC," explained Henri R. Ford, M.D., vice president and chief of Surgery at Childrens Hospital and vice chair for clinical affairs in the Department of Surgery and professor of surgery at the Keck School of Medicine. "These sub-specialties include diagnostic and interventional perinatology, pediatric cardiology, genetics, neonatology, and general and sub-specialty pediatric surgery."
Dr. Ford addressed the symposium on "The History and Future of Fetal Surgery." He noted that over the past 30 years, advances, such as the development of medical ultrasonography, which has allowed more accurate prenatal assessment and diagnosis of congenital anomalies, and the development and refinement of new medical and surgical treatment modalities, have "...transformed the fetus into a treatable patient."
Dr. Ford said that infants who suffer from twin-twin transfusion syndrome, where an abnormal communication between the blood vessels of the two infants develops and often leads to fetal demise, have benefited from fetoscopic ablation of the abnormal communication between these blood vessels.
Dr. Ford said that the IMFH already is offering this type of fetoscopic treatment for twin-twin transfusion syndrome, and is poised to offer some of the latest advances in the field of fetoscopic surgery to the children of Southern California.
Other presentations included: "Prenatal Diagnosis in the 21st Century," by David Miller, M.D., co-director, Institute of Maternal-Fetal Health at Childrens Hospital and associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Keck; "Advances in Operative Fetoscopy," by Ramen Chmait, M.D., director, Fetal Therapy Program, Institute of Maternal-Fetal Health and visiting assistant professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Keck; "Fetal and Neonatal Brain Development: A View Into the Future" by Ashok Panigrahy, M.D., attending neuroradiologist at Childrens Hospital and assistant professor of radiology at Keck; and "Advances in Craniofacial Surgery: Fetal Diagnosis and Neonatal Management," by Mark Urata, M.D., DDS, director, Craniofacial Surgery at Childrens Hospital and assistant professor of surgery at Keck.
The Institute for Maternal-Fetal Health, based at Children Hospital Los Angeles, is a cooperative program between Childrens Hospital and The Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. The Institute's Diagnostic Perinatal Program and its Minimally Invasive Fetal Surgical Program are based at Cha-Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center located next to Children Hospital Los Angeles. The Institute is now entering its fourth year of operation.
"The mission of the Institute is to improve maternal and fetal health outcomes and the quality of life for families through integrated, multidisciplinary health care in an atmosphere of compassion and respect," said Dr. Seri. "It is dedicated to bringing innovative, patient-centered maternal and fetal care to Los Angeles, the surrounding communities and Southern California," he added.
The Institute provides integrated, comprehensive and multi-disciplinary care to expectant mothers, fetuses and infants, during pregnancy and continuing through birth, neonatal and long-term follow-up periods for mother and child. Focusing on high-risk pregnancies, the Institute offers a wide variety of treatments, including fetal surgery, to address a broad range of complex maternal and fetal medical, genetic, metabolic and developmental abnormalities.
Founded in 1901, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles has been treating the most seriously ill and injured children in greater Los Angeles for more than a century, and it is acknowledged throughout the United States and around the world for its leadership in pediatric and adolescent health. Childrens Hospital is one of America's premier teaching hospitals, affiliated with the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California for more than 73 years. It is a national leader in pediatric research.
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is the only hospital in greater Los Angeles affiliated with the Children's Miracle Network, an international non-profit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for pediatric hospitals throughout North America.
Since 1990, U.S. News & World Report and its panel of board-certified pediatricians have named Childrens Hospital Los Angeles one of the top pediatric facilities in the nation. Child magazine also ranked Childrens Hospital Los Angeles among the top-ten children's hospitals in America in its February 2005 issue.
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