ULTRASONIC PLACENTAL LOCALIZATION AND BLOODY TAPS IN MIDTRIMESTER AMNIOCENTESIS FOR PRENATAL GENETIC DIAGNOSIS

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (5) , 589-593
Abstract
Midtrimester amniocentesis for prenatal genetic diagnosis on 32 patients after ultrasonic placental localization and on 50 patients without prior ultrasound was performed. The use of ultrasound did not affect the red cell count in the fluid samples. The 2 patient groups had similar rates of grossly bloody taps. The average number of viable clones after culture was lower both after bloody taps and when ultrasound had been used, but in neither case was the difference significant. There were no postamniocentesis complications in the entire patient population. Ultrasonic placental localization was not helpful in avoiding bloody taps and bloody taps may not necessarily be dangerous. Since the long-range hazards of in utero exposure to ultrasound is unknown, preamniocentesis ultrasound should be performed on specific indication, rather than routine.

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: