The significant strides made during the past decade in neonatal medicine are based largely upon the provision of intensive perinatal care to the parturient, her fetus, and the newborn. In addition to technologic advances in the bioelec- tronic monitoring of the fetus and newborn, the introduction of noninvasive methods to monitor oxygenation, the pharma- cologic manipulation ofthe ductus arteriosus and pulmonary vasculature, and the use of ultrasonographic diagnosis of congenital heart defects and other lesions, intensive efforts by neonatal specialists throughout the world have also contri- buted to the decline in neonatal and infant mortality. Professors Wille and Obladen have provided an authoritative manual outlining intensive care of newborns and the ways in which the science of neonatal medicine, the technology of the 1980 s, and the art of application have resulted in the practice of neonatal intensive care at the Kinderklinik of the University of Heidelberg. The English translation resulted from the success of the German edition and will serve well the needs of the English-speaking student and practitioner of neonatal intensive care. T. Allen Merrit, M. D.

Introduction by: A. Merritt
Translated by: T. C. Telger