Curriculum of Obstetrics
TOPIC 18
HIGH-RISK PREGNANCY
RATIONALE
Pregnancy is an important event that plays a great role in family stability. A high-risk pregnancy is a pregnancy in which the mother, fetus, or neonate is in jeopardy, and women in this situation require greater attention before, during, and after pregnancy. The most important challenge is early diagnosis; therefore, different authors have proposed several high-risk identification systems. Taking of a thorough history and performing a physical examination of every obstetric patient are the best ways to identify a high-risk patient. Because there are advances in this field for many cases that were formerly considered incurable, the knowledge and skills of the graduates should expand to cover the recent modalities in investigation and treatment. Pre-conception counseling is also important.
GOALS
l Understand the magnitude of high-risk pregnancy, its different etiologies, and identification systems, and emphasize preventable and avoidable causes
l Recognize and utilize basic diagnostic tools such as the non-stress test and contraction stress test
l Raise the awareness of maternal-fetal medicine
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
l Define high-risk pregnancy
l List risk factors
l Describe management of high-risk pregnancy
l Enumerate methods of antepartum assessment of fetal well-being
l Identify patients with high-risk pregnancies in antenatal clinics
CONTENT
l Definition of high risk pregnancy
l Etiology
l Identification of the high-risk patient
l Pre-conceptional counseling
l Methods of fetal surveillance for high-risk patients
l Guidelines for preventive aspects and treatment
