• Pilar Duarte Maldonado
• Roser Fibla Taboada 
• Natalia García Riaño
• Laia Grau Company
• Gabriela Moreano Pérez
• Vanesa Parriego Martínez
• Leia Peralta Gallego
• Patrícia Díaz Fernández
• Alba Tejada Gázquez

The Gynecology and Obstetrics departments are part of the Territorial Clinical Directorate for Gynecology and Obstetrics.

Obstetrics

At Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital, we support women throughout pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, providing safe, respectful, and personalized care. We are the referral center for obstetrics in the Northern Metropolitan Area, managing both uncomplicated pregnancies and high-risk cases.

Our goal is to provide comprehensive care that combines high-complexity medical support with a human-centered, personal approach. To this end, we are equipped to handle everything from natural, low-intervention births at the 'Casa Laietània' (Birthing Center) to the most complex cases in our conventional delivery rooms, which feature state-of-the-art technology.

The department relies on a multidisciplinary team available 24 hours a day—including obstetricians, midwives, anesthesiologists, and neonatologists—to ensure safety and comfort at all times.

Furthermore, we participate in research and innovation projects through the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, aiming to continuously improve maternal and perinatal health.

What sets us apart is our ability to manage both highly complex pregnancies and births requiring minimal intervention, always placing the woman and her family at the heart of the process.

Gynecology

Modern gynecological surgery—whether for oncological or benign conditions—prioritizes minimally invasive approaches due to their significant benefits in reducing complications and enhancing patient comfort. At Germans Trias, the majority of procedures are performed laparoscopically or vaginally, and the center currently offers robotic-assisted surgery using the DaVinci system.

In accordance with the Department of Health's directive to centralize complex oncological care, ovarian cancer treatment in Catalonia is currently concentrated in 11 designated referral centers distributed across the region. Germans Trias Hospital serves as the referral center for the Barcelonès Nord and Maresme areas. Treating advanced ovarian cancer is complex and demands a high level of surgical expertise and support services. Patient survival in cases of this serious disease has been shown to be directly linked to the outcome of the initial surgical intervention. The hospital performs this radical surgery with complete primary cytoreduction rates exceeding 75%—well above the minimum quality standards set by gynecologic oncology scientific societies.

Surgical and medical treatment for breast cancer—the most common neoplasm in women—achieves high survival rates, exceeding 90% in the majority of cases. The department also offers the option of breast reconstruction during the same surgical procedure, thereby minimizing the aesthetic and psychological aftereffects associated with the disease. For a subset of patients, intraoperative radiotherapy may be offered as an alternative to postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy.

Although not oncological conditions, genital prolapse and urinary incontinence are highly prevalent issues that impair the quality of life of women today. The department offers comprehensive surgical treatment using advanced transvaginal and laparoscopic techniques.

Highlights of the service

• Germans Trias Hospital strengthens its approach to strokes occurring during pregnancy and the postpartum period with a protocol that is a first for the ICS.
• Germans Trias Hospital and ASACO join forces to mark World Ovarian Cancer Day with a scientific and social event.
• Germans Trias Hospital contributes to the first book in Catalan addressing gender and sex bias in healthcare.
• Hospital professionals present the experience of the first three years of the childbirth care model at the Casa Laietània Birth Center.
• The Hospital's Perinatal Grief Unit attends the inauguration of Badalona's first space dedicated to gestational, perinatal, and neonatal grief.

Key service information | Childbirth care | Obstetrics protocols | Gynecology protocols

Key Service Information 

• Regional reference center for highly complex gynecologic oncologic surgery

Germans Trias Hospital is a regional reference center for the treatment of highly complex gynecologic cancer. For ovarian cancer, it serves as the reference center for the Barcelonès Nord and Maresme areas and ranks among the hospitals in Catalonia treating the highest number of cases. The service possesses expertise in radical surgery for advanced ovarian cancer, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, fluorescence-guided surgery, radioguided sentinel lymph node surgery, and salvage exenterative surgery with reconstruction.

• Breast Functional Unit: breast-conserving surgery, oncoplastic surgery, and reconstruction

The Breast Functional Unit offers a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach to breast cancer. In 2025, 283 patients underwent surgery for breast cancer. Of these, 72.8% underwent simple breast-conserving or oncoplastic surgery, utilizing techniques such as reduction patterns, the round-block technique, and LICAP. Among patients undergoing mastectomy, immediate reconstruction was performed in 79% of cases, employing both prosthetic and microsurgical techniques, such as DIEP.

• Multidisciplinary Transgender Surgery Unit

The Gynecology Department participates in a multidisciplinary transgender surgery unit, in coordination with the Plastic Surgery and Urology departments. This structure enables the provision of a coordinated, specialized surgical approach within a tertiary hospital setting, tailored to each individual's needs and preferences.

• Pioneering Protocol for Stroke During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period

Germans Trias Hospital has developed the first and only protocol within the Catalan Health Institute hospital network for the assessment, management, and treatment of acute stroke during pregnancy and the postpartum period. The protocol covers ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and cerebral venous thrombosis; it was developed through a multidisciplinary effort involving the Neurology and Obstetrics & Gynecology departments, with the participation of Interventional Neuroradiology, Radiology, Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Biophysics.

• Casa Laietània: the ICS’s first Birth Center

Casa Laietània is the Birth Center at Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital and was the first Birth Center established by the Catalan Health Institute (ICS). It offers a woman- and family-centered model of care for physiological birth, featuring the midwife as the primary care provider and an environment that fosters privacy, mobility, and the woman's active participation. At the same time, it is integrated into a high-complexity hospital, ensuring immediate access to Obstetrics, Neonatology, and Anesthesiology teams whenever needed.

Childbirth Care 

The care provided by the Obstetrics Service at Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital—covering pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period—is centered on the woman and her family, aiming to be respectful, personalized, safe, and comprehensive. We cater to women with both low-risk and complex pregnancies, offering a range of care options that ensure an appropriate response for every situation: from Casa Laietània—an intimate, home-like setting for women seeking low-intervention childbirth care—to the conventional delivery suite offering highly specialized, round-the-clock care.

A key distinguishing feature of our service is the establishment of specialized clinics dedicated to maternal health, enabling highly specialized, multidisciplinary care tailored to each woman's specific needs. We work in teams formed jointly with other hospital departments to address:

• Endocrine disorders and gestational diabetes.
• Perinatal mental health.
• Renal disease and hypertension during pregnancy.
• Autoimmune and rheumatological diseases.
• Maternal heart disease and cardiovascular risk.
• Digestive disorders.
• High risk of preterm birth.

This model of care establishes us as a referral center for maternal and perinatal health. Our clinical work is complemented by research and innovation through the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute, as well as by our teaching activities, which link us to the training of future generations of professionals.

All of this makes us special: a service capable of offering the most natural and respectful care whenever possible, and the most specialized, technology-driven care when necessary—always placing the woman and the family at the center.

Obstetric Protocols 

• Perinatal management at the limit of viability
• Threatened preterm labor
• Anemia in pregnancy and the postpartum period
• Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy
• Periconceptional/perinatal genetic counseling
• Management and treatment of pregnancy and delivery in women with HIV
• Triple I chorioamnionitis
• Corticosteroids for fetal lung maturation
• Fetal growth disorders
• Gestational diabetes
• Thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy
• Decreased fetal movements
• Shoulder dystocia
• Organ and tissue donation in perinatology and neonatology
• Prolonged pregnancy
• Fetal echocardiography
• Functional fetal echocardiography
• Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy 
• Streptococcus agalactiaenand pregnancy
• Twin pregnancy
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Hyperemesis gravidarum
• Stroke and pregnancy/postpartum
• Labor induction
• Congenital perinatal infections
• Fetal macrosomia
• Chronic kidney disease and pregnancy
• Obesity and pregnancy
• Dystocic labor
• Vaginal birth after cesarean section
• Prevention of preterm birth: short cervix and cervical insufficiency
• Antithrombotic prophylaxis in pregnancy and the postpartum period
• Fourth trimester of pregnancy
• Premature rupture of membranes
• Prenatal ultrasound screening
• Substance use disorder and pregnancy
• Trauma and pregnancy
• External cephalic version

Gynecology Protocols 

• Amenorrhea
• Bladder emptying dysfunction and acute urinary retention
• Urinary incontinence in adult women
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Management of abdominal surgical wounds in gynecology
• Adnexal masses
• Uterine fibroids
• Hydatidiform mole
• Pelvic organ prolapse in women
• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome
• Treatment of VAIN
• Treatment of VIN
• Genital ulcers

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Research activities are conducted within the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics in coordination with the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), and other national and international centers.

In 2023, the Gynecology and Obstetrics team established itself as the "Women and Health" (DiS) research group, affiliated with the Community Research area of ​​the Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP). This group brings together professionals from various fields within gynecology and obstetrics to conduct its own cross-cutting, multidisciplinary clinical research projects. These projects focus on the various factors affecting and influencing women's sexual and reproductive health across all stages of life, consistently centering the gender perspective and prioritizing actions that promote women's health.

Key research areas include maternal-fetal health and metabolic programming, endocrine disruptors, preeclampsia, gynecological and oncological conditions, breast pathology, cervical health and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, pelvic floor health, and surgical innovation.

The department participates in multicenter studies and competitive projects covering gynecological oncology, breast cancer, pelvic floor surgery, prehabilitation, and precision medicine. Notable among these are the HINCOA1, PAROLA, and SOPHIE II studies, as well as projects developing three-dimensional preclinical models for precision medicine.

In the field of innovation, the department participates in the SESHAT project—focused on applying technologies such as virtual and augmented reality to complex pelvic surgery—and develops e-Health projects targeting ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and the pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum process.

Team

Head of the group: Inés Velasco López. MD, PhD.

Head of the Ginecology Service: Sergio Martínez Román. MD,PhD.

Gynecologists

• Carla Lecumberri Estruch. MD, PhD.
• Miguel Ángel Luna Miguel. MD, PhD.
• Rosana Díaz Souto. MD

Head of the Obstetrics Service: Carmen Comas Gabriel. MD, PhD.

Obstetricians:

• Laia Pratcorona Alicart. MD, PhD.
• Ivan Hurtado Lupiañez. MD, PhD.
• Marta Ricart Calleja. MD.
• Beatriz Lorente Silva. MD.

Head of midwives: Laura Tarrats Velasco. PhD.

Midwives:

• Pablo Rodríguez Coll, PhD
• Lorena Segovia Navarro

Pediatrician:

• Paula Sol Ventura. MD,PhD.

Research lines

Thematic areas under development:

1. Endocrine disruptors

The HYPIEND project, funded by the European Commission under the Horizon Europe Framework Programme (Grant Agreement ID: 101137440; https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101137440), aims to understand the effects of exposure to endocrine disruptors on function and epigenetic programming. It also seeks to identify intervention strategies to minimize both exposure and the resulting consequences for the neuroendocrine system during the perinatal and prepubertal stages. Within this project, the group is leading two intervention studies involving vulnerable populations: A study involving pregnant women, conducted in Spain, Poland, and Belgium. A study involving schoolchildren, carried out in Spain and Belgium.

2. Preeclampsia

In recent years, the group has participated in multicenter studies conducted in the country regarding the prevention, detection, and treatment of preeclampsia. This line of work currently represents a strong commitment to collaborative research and scientific output.

3. Preterm birth and preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM)

The center has pioneered the use of expectant management for preterm PPROM, leading to a reduction in late preterm births and setting the standard for this approach among local hospitals. Furthermore, in close collaboration with the Neonatology Department, efforts are underway to improve comprehensive care for families at risk of preterm birth.

4. Metabolic programming

The department has its own research line, conducted in collaboration with the Endocrinology Department, which investigates various metabolic scenarios, such as thyroid disorders and maternal diabetes and obesity. This area of ​​research has secured funding through three national public calls for proposals.

5. Breastfeeding

A research initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the Department of Chemistry at the University of Huelva’s Faculty of Experimental Sciences; it aims to continue identifying new bioactive components in human breast milk that may play a role in digestive and neurocognitive development.

6. Obstetric violence

The group reinforces its commitment to women's reproductive rights and the fight against all forms of violence against women through an innovative project called the INLOVE Study. This project is currently designing a specific tool (a questionnaire or measurement scale) to evaluate the practices and procedures used during induced labors from the perspectives of women, healthcare professionals, and medical students.

7. Gender dimension

In the service's activities, it is considered essential to incorporate and analyze the voices, preferences, choices, complaints, and demands of women in any preventive, clinical, or strictly research-related procedure.
 

Undergraduate teaching

• Degree in Medicine. Unitat Docent Germans Trias i Pujol-Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

► Subjects:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Simulation Applied to Medical and Surgical Knowledge
• Clinical Practice in Gynecology and Obstetrics Bachelor's Thesis
• Hospital Department and Service Internships I
• Hospital Department and Service Internships II

► Professor in charge: Dr. Miguel Ángel Luna Tomás

► Associate professors

• Elvira Carballas Valencia 
• Carmina Comas Gabriel
• Raúl De Diego Burillo
• Rosana Díaz Souto 
• Mar Framis Utset
• Iván Hurtado Lupiáñez
• Carla Lecumberri Estruch
• Miguel Ángel Luna Tomás
• Sergio Martínez Roman
• Júlia Ponce Vila
• Cristian Ríos Gozálvez 
• Maider Ripero Olano
• Sonia sánchez Méndez
• Inés Velasco López 

Postgraduate teaching

► Tutors:

• Iván Hurtado Lupiáñez (MIR)
• Miguel Ángel Luna Tomás (MIR)
• Noemí Ramirez Planes (LLIR)

The Multiprofessional Teaching Unit for Obstetrics and Gynecology (UDMOiG) is accredited for three postgraduate training (MIR) positions per year. As the specialty program lasts four years, the unit has a capacity for 12 resident physicians in training. Additionally, the UDMOiG is accredited for four positions per year (with a two-year duration) for midwife training (LLIR).

All residents and trainees actively participate in clinical care, specific clinical and educational sessions, and clinical and basic research projects. Furthermore, the postgraduate training program organizes various simulation-based courses and workshops for residents covering obstetric procedures, postpartum hemorrhage, shoulder dystocia, and minimally invasive gynecological surgery, as well as an introductory course on research.
 

Several training sessions are held weekly from 8:00 to 9:00 AM:

• Gynecology clinical cases.
• Obstetrics clinical cases.
• Course: Update in Gynecology and Obstetrics. Activity accredited by the CCFPS.
• Joint perinatology session.
• Internal Gynecology and Obstetrics sessions.
• Morbidity and mortality session. Activity accredited by the CCFPS.

There is also the opportunity to participate in the various multidisciplinary committees of which the department is a part: Breast Cancer Committee, Gynecologic Oncology Committee, Cervical Pathology Committee, Fetal Medicine Committee, and High-Risk Obstetrics Committee.

Information for residents

The training guides for Obstetrics and Gynecology at Germans Trias can be consulted below:

• Medicine
• Obstetric-gynecologic nursing
• Find out what our residents think about the Obstetrics and Gynecology service of the Germans Trias