title: Management of prenatally detected nonlethal fetal anomalies: is a karyotype of benefit?
abstract: The pregnancy outcomes of 155 women who underwent an amniocentesis for a prenatal karyotype after being diagnosed by ultrasound as having one or more nonlethal structural anomalies are presented. Thirty-three (21%) patients were found to have an abnormal karyotype. Knowledge of the prenatal karyotype was useful in the subsequent management of these pregnancies. A pregnancy with a fetal anomaly diagnosed prior to 24 weeks was more likely to be terminated if an abnormal karyotype was also present. In women who were diagnosed as having a fetal anomaly with an abnormal karyotype at 24 weeks or later, only 3 of 13 (23%) infants survived the neonatal period. Knowledge of the karyotype results influenced decisions regarding the place, timing, and route of delivery in these fetuses. In 32 women, (21%) a karyotype was beneficial by avoiding maternal transport, cesarean delivery, and neonatal expenses at a Level III perinatal center.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Alabama, Birmingham.
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Brumfield
authors.forename: R O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Hauth
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cosper
authors.forename: E V
authors.initials: EV
authors.lastname: Colvin
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Finley
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000175:diagnosis*; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007621:Karyotyping; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal