Current concepts of optimal gestational age for delivery based on gestational age associated risks of fetal and neonatal death

摘要

TO THE EDITORS: In their excellent article, Mandujano et al performed a brilliant analysis comparing fetal and neonatal mortality by week of gestation, including the risk of remaining undelivered, to determine the best gestational age of delivery.In the low-risk cohort, the total number of deaths after 34~+0 weeks of gestation is 16,639. The estimated minimum total number of losses that would occur (after 34~+0 weeks) if all the remaining fetuses in the beginning of each week were delivered during this specific week is 13,669 and corresponds to 38 weeks' gestation (38~+0 to 38~+6) in the low-risk cohort, the proportion of stillbirths and neonate deaths being at 53% and 47%, respectively.