Amniocentesis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Amniocentesis, including details on pregnancy, prenatal screening, diagnosis, risks, down syndrome.

Age-specific risk of fetal loss post second trimester amniocentesis: analysis of 5043 cases.

Mazza V, Pati M, Bertucci E, Re C, Ranzi A, Percesepe A, Forabosco A, Volpe A

Prenatal Medicine Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Modena and Reggio Emilia University, Italy. mazza@unimo.it

OBJECTIVES: To assess the risk of fetal loss attributable to second trimester amniocentesis in singleton pregnancies through a cross-sectional study. METHODS: Records of 5043 consecutive second trimester amniocentesis, performed by a single operator between 1997 and 2003, were analyzed. Fetal loss post amniocentesis was calculated by grouping pregnant women in age classes and assessing observed/expected (O/E) rate. RESULTS: Total fetal losses were 40 (0.81%): 33 cases (0.67%) occurred before the 24th week, 37 cases (0.76%) before the 28th gestational week, and 3 cases (0.06%) after the 28th week of pregnancy. An age-dependent increase of the rate of fetal loss, not statistically significant (Chi-Square = 0.349, p = 0.505) was observed. The total O/E ratio values did not show any statistically significant risk (O/E ratio = 1.25, CI = 0.86-1.64). The analysis of the single age classes did not detect any statistical significance. The excess fetal loss rate associated with amniocentesis was 0.16%. CONCLUSIONS: No effect of the 2nd trimester amniocentesis was noted on fetal loss.

Published 7 February 2007 in Prenat Diagn, 27(2): 180-3.
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