Obstetrics and Neonatology
January 21, 2011
Posted by:Jo Chapman
I attended a really informative seminar last night at 7 Beford Row Chambers. Professor Andrew Whitelaw, professor of Neonatal Medicine gave helpful insight into perinatal brain injury, the mechanisms which can kill brain cells and when negligent care causes disability, while Professor Edward Shaxted, consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, discussed the obstetric perspective on prematurity, including common litigation issues, (such as: why was preterm labour not diagnosed? why was preterm labour not stopped? why was caesarean section not performed and was resuscitation and neonatal care appropriate?). I learnt: failure to give vitamin K may lead to serious brain haemorrage in the baby; that the acid base balance (PH) on cord blood or post resuscitation blood can help to determine the timing of the onset of Hypoxic-Ischaemic Encephalopathy; that drinking diet soda can increase the risk of premature birth; and that litigation associated with prematurity is exceptionally challenging.