Five hundred cases of amniocentesis without bloody tap.
Five hundred amniocenteses were carried out at midtrimester for prenatal diagnosis. A 22-gauge spinal needle with a stylet was used. The needle was guided by a real-time sector ultrasonograph. A transducer was placed adjacent to the puncture site and the needle tip was observed entering the amniotic cavity. By this technique, a bloody tap was avoided. There were only three (0.6%) spontaneous abortions in this group of 496 patients. Amniocentesis guided by ultrasound is a safe method for the mother and the fetus.
D000649:Amniocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000175:diagnosis*; D025063:Chromosome Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008423:Maternal Age; D009339:Needles; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D018566:Pregnancy, High-Risk; D012306:Risk; D014463:Ultrasonography