Rhesus Incompatibility – An Assessment of the Hazards of Amniocentesis, and the Effect of Liquor Volumes on Amniocentesis Prediction

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: The complications of 185 amniocenteses have been analysed. The failure rate of the procedure was 11.3%. Spontaneous rupture of the membranes and premature labour occurred in 2.2%. In 33% of patients fetal cells were found in the liquor and feto‐maternal haemorrhage occurred in 38%.The presence of fetal cells in the maternal circulation was followed by an increase in maternal sensitisation in 4 of 16 patients. Intra‐uterine fetal death can occur from feto‐maternal haemorrhage.A suprapubic approach for amniocentesis decreases the incidence of feto‐maternal transfusion. Placental localization is essential to avoid feto‐maternal transfusion. In 25 patients differences in liquor volume had no effect on the accuracy of amniocentesis prediction.