Obstetrics

1. Basic information: The Department of Obstetrics of Suzhou Kowloon Hospital is the Suzhou Center for the Treatment of Critically Ill Pregnant and Parturient Women, a designated institution for prenatal screening in Suzhou, and a key department of the hospital. 2. Bed capacity: The department currently has 35 inpatient beds, including one VIP obstetric ward and an obstetric intensive care unit with 4 beds. The delivery suite is equipped with 11 labor beds, 1 operating room, and 6 independent delivery rooms. 3. Personnel: The department currently has 42 medical and nursing staff, including 18 physicians (4 chief physicians, 7 associate chief physicians, and 6 attending physicians). The department director, Chief Physician Liu Yingyu, has extensive clinical experience and expertise in high-risk pregnancy management and the treatment of critically ill pregnant and parturient women. The department has appointed Professor Yang Huixia, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Peking University First Hospital, as its professional technical consultant. Under the leadership of the department director, the department’s core physicians have undertaken further training at the obstetrics departments of several advanced hospitals in China, and have established friendly academic exchange relationships with Peking University First Hospital and Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Health Hospital. 4. Equipment: The department is currently equipped with the luxury automatic delivery bed DG-810, the Philips central fetal heart monitoring station, the Balom imported electric bed CA-53F3-2CA, the Sanrui labor analgesia doula device, neonatal radiant warmers (HKN-90 and HKN-500B), the American GE E8 color Doppler ultrasound diagnostic system, and SIEMENS 1.5T and 3.0T magnetic resonance imaging systems, among others. 5. Clinical specialties: 1) Emergency and critical care: As the Suzhou Center for the Treatment of Critically Ill Pregnant and Parturient Women, the department is capable of treating all types of critical obstetric conditions, including amniotic fluid embolism, refractory postpartum hemorrhage, pregnancy complicated by heart disease, acute fatty liver of pregnancy, HELLP syndrome, and placenta previa accreta spectrum with severe features. To date, more than 500 critically ill and emergency cases have been treated. 2) Labor analgesia and free-position childbirth: The department actively promotes the concept of natural childbirth. Since 2015, it has provided free-position childbirth and non-invasive delivery assistance, as well as one-to-one doula support. Delivery balls, birthing stools, and other assistive tools are used to reduce women’s fear of childbirth and improve comfort during labor. Since 2017, in collaboration with the Department of Anesthesiology, the department has provided 24/7 labor analgesia services to reduce labor pain and improve the childbirth experience. 3) Management of hyperglycemia during pregnancy: A specialized outpatient clinic and inpatient ward for gestational diabetes mellitus have been established. Drawing on the successful experience of Professor Yang Huixia’s team in managing gestational diabetes mellitus, the department provides patients with standardized monitoring and individualized treatment and management plans, helping mothers with gestational diabetes mellitus safely pass through the perinatal period and safeguarding the maternal and neonatal health of both mothers with diabetes and their babies. 4) Multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment of placental disorders: The department conducts systematic evaluation and management of patients with various types of placenta previa, particularly placenta previa with severe features. It works with the Ultrasound Department and the MRI Department to complete systematic preoperative assessment, and has established a multidisciplinary treatment team with the Departments of Anesthesiology, Neonatology, Laboratory Medicine, Blood Transfusion, and Interventional Medicine to provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for patients with complex placental disorders. To date, more than 200 patients with placenta previa have been diagnosed and treated. 5) Early intervention for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: The department conducts early prediction and intervention for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. During the early and middle stages of pregnancy, high-risk groups undergo screening and assessment and receive corresponding health guidance and management measures, with the aim of promoting the health management of pregnant and parturient women throughout pregnancy. To date, more than 400 screening examinations have been performed and more than 50 patients have received outpatient intervention. In recent years, no cases of in-hospital eclampsia have occurred, helping safeguard the health of mothers and babies affected by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. 6) Prenatal screening and genetic counseling: The department has a specialized prenatal screening clinic that provides professional prenatal screening services and genetic counseling for hereditary diseases such as Down syndrome, thalassemia, and fragile X syndrome. 7) Prevention and treatment of recurrent miscarriage and preterm birth: The department conducts etiological examinations and treatment for patients with recurrent miscarriage and preterm birth. High-risk individuals undergo systematic screening, regular follow-up, and timely intervention beginning in the early and middle stages of pregnancy. To date, more than 70 cervical cerclage procedures have been performed, including more than 10 emergency cervical cerclage procedures. 6. Research and teaching: The department has undertaken 5 research projects, published more than 30 papers, and participated in the compilation of 2 books. It has received one first prize for new technology from Suzhou Industrial Park. The department currently collaborates with Peking University First Hospital and participates in big-data research and projects concerning gestational diabetes mellitus, metabolism-related diseases, and other topics.