Division of Obstetrics1
The Division of Obstetric is a center in western China for perinatal medicine, maternal and child healthcare, high risk and critical maternal condition management, breast feeding instruction.
The division is divided into six parts: 1. Obstetric Outpatient Clinic, 2. Obstetric Ward A (VIP ward), 3. Obstetric Ward B (rooming-in), 4. Obstetric C(prenatal medicine), 5. Labor Room, 6. Obstetric Operation Room and ICU.
Obstetric Outpatient Clinics
In the outpatient clinics, we provide medical clients with all subspecialty services regarding high risky pregnancy, such as high risky pregnancy, hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, endocrine disorders in pregnancy, genetic counseling, early pregnancy, twin pregnancy, prenatal counseling, and nutrition.
The expectant mother can choose a doctor in the clinic. And the doctor and his/her group will take care of the client in the process from prenatal to postnatal period.
Our nutritionists make individualized nutrition scheme and monitor the body weight of pregnant women from pre-pregnancy to post-delivery.
We offer regular public health education to the mothers-to-be on pregnancy, delivery, and breastfeeding.
In the Obstetric Division, we have over thirty doctors, including seven professors and three associate professors. Clinically, we have five medical groups and seven nursing groups, with each group headed by a highly experienced doctor or a senior nurse.
Obstetric Ward A is a well equipped ward where patients are given family centered high quality services, including a series of holistic nursing, such as pre-labor care, puerperal care, health education, psychological care, breast care, breastfeeding instruction, neonatal care, baby massage and swimming.
Obstetric Ward B is a rooming-in ward where newborns stay with mothers and doctors and nurses provide them professional services, which include puerperal care, health education, psychological care, breast care, breastfeeding instruction, neonatal care, baby massage and swimming.
Obstetric Ward C is a pre-labor ward, focusing on obstetric complications (such as gestational hypertension, ICP, premature rupture of membrane, placenta previa, premature labor, pregnancy associated with cardiac disease) and fetus health. The ward is equipped with fetus monitoring systems, fetal umbilical blood flow monitors, ultrasound instruments.
Labor room and obstetric operation room are equipped with multi-function delivery beds and central fetal monitoring systems. Doula accompanied delivery and analgesic delivery are practiced here.
We also provide extended services to discharged puerperants. Doctors or nurses can do baby bathing, baby massage, recovery consultation, postnatal exercise guide, and puerperal care at a client’s home as requested.
Director: LIU Xinghui
Deputy directors: YOU Yong, YU Haiyan
Subspecialties
Maternal Medicine
In early 1980s, professors Yue Yicheng, Zhang Guangyu, Li Weimin, with the cooperation from the experts with West China University of Medical Sciences in the areas of internal medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, initiated the basic and clinical research of perinatal medicine, and established the subspecialty of obstetrics in the hospital, which is regarded as the cradle of obstetrics in China. They headed an investigation on postpartum hemorrhage, made a research on forceps and vacuum assisted delivery, modified the national criteria of postpartum hemorrhage, standardized the techniques of forceps and vacuum extraction, initiated breech scoring criteria. In 1988, we were appointed by the Ministry of Health as expert advisor for maternal and child programs. In 1990s, we conducted the investigation of maternal nutrition and anemia in rural areas and participated in the study of the causing factors and interventions of perinatal mortality and maternal mortality. In 1997 we were awarded the National Second Prize for Science and Technology Progress. We are on the cutting edge in China for the diagnosing and treating maternal emergency, rare cases of serious illness, hypertension complicating pregnancy, prematurity, diabetes, ICP, pregnancy complicated with liver disease, pregnancy complicated with heart disease, pregnancy complicated with hematologic diseases; in some area we even have reached advanced level in the world.
We also head the obstetric emergency medicine experts group in Chengdu City and Sichuan Province. As a medical center in West China for obstetric diseases, we provide medical services to patients from Yunnan, Guizhou, Tibet, Qinghai, Sichuan, and Chongqing: make survey on risky pregnancy and propose prevention and treatment measures: develop guidelines for screening, management and transfer of women with high risk pregnancy.
Fetal Medicine
In 1980s we started the study of prenatal diagnosis, established a prenatal genetic laboratory, and a national monitor center for birth defects. In Sichuan province, we first introduced percutaneous cordocentesis for Prenatal Diagnosis in 2005. In China, we first introduced prenatal screening of Down’s syndrome with time-resolved fluorescence, and fragile X syndrome with specific antibody in 2006. In 2008, we started to detect dysploid with a measure that combining NT ultrasound with fbhCG and PAPP-A tests. We are now among the most advanced in prenatal enzymic diagnosis of inherited me-x-tabolic diseases, early screening of Down’s syndrome, diagnosing Down’s syndrome with FISH.
We are also at leading edge in ultrasound diagnosis. With ultrasound, we provide programs like first-trimester NT scan, malformation screening in the second-trimester, fetal growth assessment in the third trimester, fetal biophysic score, umbilical blood flow monitoring, cardiovascular profile score, early detection of congenital heart diseases, early intervention of heart diseases with the cooperation of the Cardiovascular Division of the Pediatric Department, standardized diagnosis and treatment for twins.
General Obstetrics
In general obstetrics, we focus on normal births, dystocia, antenatal and postnatal bleeding, antenatal and intrapartum fetal monitoring, weight management in pregnancy, and gestational nutrition.
In 1980s, as the head of the national coordination group, we did investigations of postpartum hemorrhage, forceps and vacuum assisted delivery, and thus modified the standards of postpartum hemorrhage management in China, standardized the application of forceps and delivery technologies. We first introduced breech scoring criteria in China. At present we strongly advocated natural childbirth. Cervical ripening techniques are adapted to support natural children. Through national medical continuing education programs, we train residents and obstetricians from other hospitals on dystocia management.
In addition to conventional measures, such as drugs promoting uterus contraction, gauze packing, vessels suturing, we are skilled to treat postpartum hemorrhage with balloon oppression, B-lynch suture, and uterine vascular intervention. Moreover, we initiated a creative method to treat postpartum bleeding by the combination of gauze pressing at the lower segment of uterus and bimanual examination-like pressing. With this method, the patient can most probably reserve her reproduction. We are invited to give trainings all over the country on postpartum bleeding management.
In late 1990s, we started weight management and nutrition interventions of pregnant women, which reduced the rate of pregnancy complications by 50%. In 2009, we started to provide outpatients with obstetrician’s and clinical nutritionist’s consultation.
In 1980s, we first initiated in China intrauterine monitoring of fetus, such as fetal heart rate monitoring, pH of fetal scalp blood, and amnioscopy. Remote fetal monitoring was introduced to the hospital in 1998. Now, with the application of intrapartum fetal heart rate monitoring and biophysical scoring, combined with the observation of amniotic fluid, we have markedly reduced the rate of perinatal mortality.
Since 1995, we have attached much importance on neonatal asphyxia resuscitation.
By introducing the international standards of the techniques and giving trainings to grass-root medical professionals, we have improved the outcomes of asphyxia in newborns.
Clinical Work
New programs
Fetus Umbilical Blood-flow Analysis
fFN analysis
Fetal MCA monitoring
Double balloon technique for cervical ripening
Social medical support
Re-birth program
Post-earthquake reconstruction program
Western health promotion program
Research
In 2011, we obtained grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the provincial and municipal governments.
The research project headed by professor LIU Xinghui about the molecular mechanism of preeclampsia was rewarded the second prize for science and technology progress from the municipal government.
International Activities
Last year, we have eight doctors attending international meetings and three being further trained in overseas institutes.