The book’s level of sophistication will make it useful primarily to physicians practicing obstetrics, especially in the subspecialty of maternal-fetal medicine, and to internists and family physicians who see pregnant patients. It will also be an important resource for residents in obstetrics and gynecology, fellows in maternal-fetal medicine, medical residents in a Women’s Health track, and for medical students in their clinical clerkships.
Several new chapters will be added to the sixth edition, including “The Pregnant Trauma Patient,” “Burns During Pregnancy,” “Liver Disease,” “Other Infections of Reproductive Significance,” “Obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome,” and “Medical Management of the Older Gravida.” The rationale for chapters on burns and trauma is that these are important topics that receive little or no coverage in competing textbook on complications of pregnancy.
A major feature of this book, and what distinguishes it appreciably from its competition, is its comprehensive coverage of common as well as uncommon conditions encountered during pregnancy. While information about hypertension, diabetes, and other prevalent diseases that coexist with pregnancy is readily available from many sources, the same cannot be said about other disorders. For example, finding a comprehensive resource for information about pregnant women with thermal burns, myotonoic dystrophy, otosclerosis, or parasitic diseases is not so simple. This book provides that resource.
In addition, the coverage of common diseases is thorough, draws upon genuine experts, and is of exceptional quality. Our emphasis on the inclusion of logic trees and having a brief list of clinical “pearls” at the end of each chapter will serve a useful pedagogical end.