title: Randomized clinical trial of transabdominal versus transcervical chorionic villus sampling methods.
abstract: The relative advantages and disadvantages of transabdominal (TA) and transcervical (TC) chorionic villus sampling (CVS) in terms of fetal risks and efficacy were evaluated in a clinical trial conducted on 1194 women randomized at 7-12 weeks' gestation. The results of the study indicate that, if any, the relative risk of fetal loss following either procedure is less than double that of the alternative technique when performed by a skilled operator. Overall, the fetal loss rate (spontaneous abortions following randomization, terminations of pregnancy, and perinatal deaths) is 16.5 and 15.5 per cent, respectively, among women allocated to TA- and TC-CVS. The two procedures are equally effective, although TA-CVS is associated with a significantly lower rate of repeat device insertions; on the other hand, a higher weight of chorionic tissue is obtained, on average, with TC-CVS. Bleeding is more common following TC-CVS, while peritoneal reaction developed only after TA-CVS. No diagnostic problems specifically related to one sampling technique were identified.
authors.affiliation: First Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Milano, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brambati
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Terzian
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tognoni
mesh_terms: D001724:Birth Weight; D015193:Chorionic Villi Sampling / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012306:Risk