[Fetal and neonatal asphyxia].

The literature data and the author's own observations justify the conclusion that asphyxia of the fetus and newborn is the most common cause of death in the perinatal period. The author discusses the significance of asphyxia of the fetus and newborn as the main disease or the principal cause of death. The author suggests that the type of asphyxia of the fetus or newborn in every concrete case should be indicated in the pathologoanatomic diagnosis on the basis of physiology of intrauterine and extrauterine life. In case of asphyxia it is suggested that the question concerning the presence (or absence) of the underlying disease--fetopathy, pre-existing the asphyxia condition--should be considered. In case of asphyxia of the newborn the author recommends to bear in mind the anatomic substrate responsible for impairment of the act of breathing of the newborn. In most cases this substrate is represented by pneumopathies--noninflammatory changes in the lungs of the newborn. Pneumopathies of the newborn include deep aspiration of the amniotic content, atelectasis, edema and hemorrhages, hyaline membranes.