Shailesh Kore is a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at L.T.M. Medical College and General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai. He is in-charge, Fetal Medicine clinic of LTMG hospital, Past Chairperson, Genetic and Fetal Medicine Committee of FOGSI, Secretary, FOGSI Website Committee, recognised postgraduate teacher for MUHS (MD, DGO), examiner/convener/paper setter for MBBS, DGO, MD for MUHS and other state universities. He is Active Member of MOGS and FOGSI and Member managing Council of Mumbai Obstetrics and Gynecological Society. He is also Active Member of ISPAT, IMA and BPNI and Member of National Academy of Medical Sciences (MNAMS). He also belongs to Member of Indian College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (MICOG), and convener, coordinator, faculty, Chairperson, Master of ceremony at many scientific programs arranged by MOGS and FOGSI, IMA and ISPAT.
The book, first Edition of FOGSI publication ‘Clinical Updates in Obstetrics and Gynaecology’ published by CBS Publishers & Distributors Pvt Ltd, edited by Dr. Usha Sharma and co-edited by Dr. Bharti Maheshwari, is a compilation of topics on different aspects obstetrics and gynaecology. The book has good cover with informative, colourful, clear pictures and diagrams pertaining to the subject on good quality paper, printed in good font size making reading easy.
First chapter on anatomy of female genital tract comprises brief compilation on various aspects of anatomy of female genital tract. More details about factors responsible for higher incidence of POP in Asian population are needed. Prolapse of genital tract is an important problem, more so in females from developing countries. One of the factors responsible is considered to be quality of type I collagen in these women. It has been postulated that higher incidence of prolapsed in these women is because of poor quality of type I collagen in these women, fibres being shorter and thinner [1].
Chapters on foetal development and growth, antenatal care are well covered giving gist of the subject. Topic of labour, both normal and abnormal parts, has been well covered in the chapters ‘normal labour’ and ‘abnormal uterine action’, explaining the topics with nice diagrams making it easy to understand.
Chapter on hypertensive disorders in pregnancy covers broad outline about the subject. Pre-eclampsia is one the common pregnancy disorders complicating almost 5% of all pregnancies and responsible for 10% of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. Recently, the use of various biochemical markers like flt-1, sEng, P-selectin, effDNA, ADAM12, PP-13, PTX3, PAPP-A, combined with risk factors and uterine artery Doppler has been advocated for early prediction of this disorder. Update on newer markers for prediction of pre-eclampsia would have made the topic more complete [2].
Gestational diabetes is a major problem in India. It is now recommended that all pregnant women should be screened for diabetes at an earlier gestation [3]. There is a comprehensive coverage on the subject on diabetes in pregnancy, discussing about screening, diagnosis and management of this condition.
Also in the chapter on abnormal uterine bleeding, there is simple explanation about PALM-COEIN classification with categorisation and notation of the cases [4].
Endometriosis has been comprehensively covered in the two chapters, with nice pictures and diagrams. Also chapters on male infertility and female infertility have touched upon important aspects about these topics, with some clear views on management of such cases.
Carcinoma cervix is a major genital tract malignancy with very high prevalence in India. This topic has been well covered in this book. Primary prevention includes vaccination against HPVs. Though there is a brief mention about this vaccine, details of vaccine, mode and schedule of administration along with some mention about studies showing its efficacy or benefits would have made the issue more clear [5].
To summarise, this book is a nice and brief compilation of important topics in obstetrics and gynaecology with lucid language and nice and easy to understand diagrams. Addition of some recent advances of each topic in the next edition of this book would make this book more complete. Overall, this book provides comprehensive information on the varied topics on obstetrics and gynaecology making it useful for UG and PG students and practising clinicians for rapid revision of the subject.
