DC Dutta’s Textbook of Obstetrics, 10 th 2023

With great pleasure we release the tenth edition of Dutta's Textbook ofObstetrics. Obstetric care is evolving fast with the
progress in science and technology. The tenth edition has come up much earlier to ensure the updated knowledge and
practice for the students and practitioners.
It is more than forty years that Prof. DC Dutta, the visionary leader of education recognised the need for such a book
primarily intended for the medical and nursing students, residents and the practising obstetricians.
The changes in the present edition are significant and are in accordance with the current guidelines of National
Medical Commission (NMC). This edition has been updated as per the CBME curriculum. It carries the extensive use of
imaging studies as it is the need of the day. The chapter outlines, good number of tables, boxes are incorporated for easy
understanding and reproduction.
We are indebted to Sir, Professor Sabratnam Arulkumaran, for revising the chapters: Normal Labor (Ch. 13) and
Intrapartum Fetal Monitoring (Ch. 39). We are grateful to Dr S Bag, FRCPCH (UK), CCT, Assistant Professor, Department
of Neonatology, RKMSP and Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), Kolkata, for updating the chapters
on perinatal care (Ch. 31, 32, 33). We sincerely acknowledge Prof. K Oswal and Dr K Mukherjee, Sonologists, for their
generous support. We are indebted to Prof. BB Hore, for the revising the Ch. 34 (Analgesia and Anesthesia in Obstetrics)
as before. My sincere thanks are to Dr Chandrachur Konar, Dr Roshini P and Dr Lisley Konar, for their all round support
for this edition.
The uniqueness of this text lies in its presentation, which is simple, lucid and unambiguous. Summary tables, key
points, algorithm and the flowcharts are for quick revision before exams. Uniformity of information in all the chapters
is a special value. Contemporary guidelines of different professional and academic organizations, e.g., RCOG, ACOG,
ICOG, WHO, FIGO, NICE, CDC, ESHRE, ASRM, FOGSI are incorporated. List of most frequently used abbreviations have
been provided for easy navigation. This edition, in its fully colored format is profusely illustrated with more than 790 line
drawings, sketches and photographs.
I had the opportunity of visiting many medical institutions in this country and abroad. The feedback that I have
received form the teachers and students are invaluable. Many of the suggestions have been addressed in this edition.
The editor always welcomes the views of the students and the teachers through online access to e-mail: h.kondr@gmail.
com and websites: hiralalkonar.com and dcdutta.com. Regarding the video section, interested readers keen to know more
could reach out at: [email protected].
Dutta's Textbook ofObstetrics has a long-standing association with its sister books: Textbook ofGynecology (8th Edition,
2020), Clinics in Obstetrics (1st Edition, 2022), Clinics in Gynecology (1st Edition, 2022) and Bedside Clinics and Viva Voice
(7th Edition, 2020).
The online version of this comprehensive book has been prepared by a very young and talented team members
(Dr Chandrachur Konar, Dr Roshini P and Prof. Rajiv Kumar Saxena). Online version is extensively available. It has the
flexibility of using the text content and video materials for clinical and practical purposes. Its content will be revised and
updated annually as necessary.
I do hope that this comprehensive textbook will continue to be of immense educational resource to the readers as ever.
I am grateful to those who have taught me, most of all, the patients and my beloved students.
According to the author's desire, this book is dedicated to the students of obstetrics: past and present, who strive
relentlessly to improve maternal and newborn health care wherever they work.